President Donald Trump has spent his trip to China presenting it as proof that America is once again admired on the world stage and that his relationship with Chinese President Xi Jinping is stronger than ever. But according to Seth Meyers, a closer look at Chinese social media told a very different story.
During Thursday night’s “A Closer Look” segment on Late Night with Seth Meyers, Meyers dug into reports that Chinese internet users have been openly mocking President Trump throughout the high-profile visit. And for Meyers, perhaps more notably is that government censors appeared perfectly willing to let the commentary spread.
“In fact, while Trump was slathering praise all over Xi and going on about their fantastic relationship, Chinese censors were quietly letting mockery of Trump run rampant on the internet,” Meyers said.
Among the posts highlighted during the Late Night segment were comments like, “Trump came to China! We won the tariff war!” and “The US is no longer a country that we look up to. We can now compete with them with confidence and strength.”
Meyers seemed particularly amused by the disconnect between the lavish diplomatic treatment Trump received publicly and the mockery unfolding online at the same time. But it wasn't hard for the late-night host to see the Chinese strategy, even if the flattery was lost on its target.
“Although internet memes and posts are hardly behind Trump’s back,” Meyers added. “They’re mocking him where he’s most likely to see it.” President Trump is of course no stranger to posting memes, AI, and other questionable content on social media at all hours of the night.
While the segment leaned heavily on the absurdity of the situation, Meyers eventually moved toward a broader look at President Trump’s leadership style. The comedian closed out "A Closer Look" arguing that the president consistently prioritizes praise and spectacle over substance.
“Trump loves to play tough, but when it comes down to it, he buckles, because all he cares about is flattery, fanfare, and self enrichment,” Meyers said. “Americans are suffering, but he’s making bank.”
President Trump doesn't have to go across the globe to have people mocking him behind his back (or in front of his face). But clearly, Seth Meyers like seeing some other countries getting in on the act he's perfect for years behind the Late Night desk. We know the president has late-night TV on his radar, so maybe time will tell if Chinese social media posts also get his attention.
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