US President Donald Trump is the man China or Chinese love to hate. He’s overturned a very comfortable trade relationship (comfortable for China), has marked it out as Enemy No 1 and is using every lever against it while addressing Xi Jinping in the most honeyed terms.
But the Chinese have cottoned to Trump’s game and while they are doing everything politically to counter him, as always social media is doing something entirely different: they appear to have “co-opted” Trump!
Witness the ongoing Lunar New Year celebrations, a lot of it is about “Dongbei Trump”. “Dongbei” refers to northeast China, a region comprising three provinces (Liaoning, Jilin and Heilongjiang) known for harsh winters, but rich agriculture and flourishing industry.
The people are known for their strongly accented Mandarin, also their bold style and sense of humour. The videos circulating on Chinese social media show Trump dressed for the part, as if he were from that region.
He is seen making dumplings, a local favourite, singing songs in Mandarin (we know Trump’s granddaughter speaks Mandarin) and taking part in other New Year traditions.
There is a word for taking a global figure and reimagining him within a Chinese cultural frame. It’s called “Chinamaxing”. Trump has been Chinamaxed and he can love it or leave it. (Check out the video below) A widely followed military commentary account on Weibo amplified the trend by posting a video imagining how Trump would appear if born in different countries. The post triggered a storm of sardonic reactions. Many users joked that every version of Trump on social media looked better than the American original. Some lauded his Mao suit, a nod to a time when that suit ruled.
Could Trump sue for restitution of his mein? It would be pointless for whom would he sue? Where to start? For all you know, he’s enjoying seeing himself being feted by Chinese social media. Vanity is not a Trumpian fault, it is celebrated.
