Memes, inspirational quotes and even dance videos have propelled President-elect Donald Trump to a new height of fame on Chinese social media since his election.
On Xiaohongshu, a media platform very similar to Instagram, the search term “Trump” displays more than 200,000 posts on the topic and 880 million views, with the most popular recent posts each accumulating more than 72,000 views and thousands of comments.
Videos of the president-elect dancing to the song YMCA of the Village People group are circulating in Chinese cyberspace.
Many commenters find the content amusing, calling him a prankster or comedian, while others consider him inspirational, viewing the future two-time US president as a role model.
Trump’s popularity stems from a kind of vitality and enthusiasm he showed throughout his campaign, analysts say, attracting many young Chinese who grew up admiring darker, more rigid communist idols in their own country.
Videos of Elon Musk at a Trump pre-election rally also impressed Chinese users on social media platforms. On these posts, commenters describe him as “a good type of capitalist” and “someone who will make America strong.”
“They need an idol”
These impressions come amid a general malaise facing the Chinese economy and which has pushed young Chinese to “lie flat on their stomachs”, that is to say, to stop fighting for a better life in the face of a competitive job market and other pressures.
A frequently posted comment under many Trump-related articles reads: “He is 78 years old, was shot in the ear and bled profusely, was convicted of a crime and was almost sent in prison, appealed more than 60 times but continued anyway. work hard to find a job and find the best job for himself. What excuse do you have for not working hard?
Liu, a writer from Jiangsu province, said Trump’s difficult path back to the presidency is precisely what inspires China’s youth over the Communist Party’s traditional heroes. Liu only gave his last name because speaking to foreign media is dangerous, he said.
“They need an idol who represents the possibility of individual success. Trump fits this image: he grows stronger with every setback, fights continuously, and continues to work hard even at an older age,” Liu said, adding that “more importantly, young Chinese people yearn for the kind of environment fair and just who enabled Trump must succeed.”
Trump stands in direct contrast to many revered Chinese figures, such as Xi Jinping, Mao Zedong and communist soldier Lei Feng – a model hero in China.
“Their lives seem too hard and do not match the kind of life that young Chinese people aspire to,” Liu said, adding that Trump represents something different: the individualistic and opportunistic “American dream.”
“Whether you can wear a gold bracelet before the New Year is up to you!” “” user “Sleepy Orange” comments under a campaign rally video, referring to gold as an important gift usually exchanged during Chinese New Year. It is a symbol of wealth and prosperity. More than 2,000 people liked this comment.
Liu said he also appreciates Trump’s frankness, because he does not preach lofty ideals or moral values, but is practical and realistic. Liu called Chinese authorities and their political slogans “vague and empty.”
Popularity reflects dislike for Xi, influencer says
Chen Weiyu, a Chinese media influencer living in the United States, told VOA that Trump’s popularity on Chinese social media represents deep contempt for China’s leaders, calling people’s engagement with his content a form of “deprogramming.” “.
“Rather than admiration for Trump himself, it is more of a rejection and opposition to Xi Jinping and the Chinese Communist Party. By expressing sympathy for Trump, they are actually expressing their dislike and opposition opposition to Xi Jinping,” Chen said.
She pointed out that people at the bottom rung of Chinese society, struggling to survive in an economy controlled by communist elites, feel that no one cares about them or defends them.
In contrast, working-class individuals facing unemployment in the United States can use their votes to elect a leader who they believe will represent their interests and create a better political environment for them.
Chen also attributed the abundance of Trump content on Chinese platforms to the growing prevalence of virtual private networks as a way to access information normally prohibited in China.
However, Zhou “Zuola” Shuguang, one of the first Chinese citizen journalists to settle in Taiwan, said Trump’s popularity on Chinese social media may have “tacit approval” from the Chinese Communist Party.
Beijing’s censorship system is consistently strict when it comes to content control, so the fact that Trump-related content can spread widely on social media suggests that the CCP is intentionally allowing this content to be seen, a Zhou told VOA.
“In other words, if Trump’s content appears on Chinese social media, it means that Trump is not considered a major threat by the CCP,” he said.
Although Trump-related content gets clicks, not all of it is positive.
“It’s not a good thing for Trump to come back, God bless China,” one netizen said in a comment. Others simply mock the president-elect, the color of his hair and the way his makeup makes him look on stage.
“60% of customs duties will be given to China, how many free trade businesses will be cut,” read another comment liked by nearly 1,000 people.
Katherine Michaelson and Samuel Hui contributed to this report.