Assassination Attempt on Trump Sparks Frenzy on Chinese Social Media

Assassination Attempt on Trump Sparks Frenzy on Chinese Social Media

Images of the attempted assassination of former US President Donald Trump during a campaign rally in Pennsylvania on Saturday night have triggered widespread online interest and criticism of the US on China’s heavily censored internet.

The gunman opened fire at the rally, but Trump, who was shot in the ear, was quickly declared safe. As shots rang out, Trump ducked to the ground and was shielded by Secret Service agents. He then raised his fist in a defiant gesture, blood visible on his face, before being escorted off the stage. This dramatic moment was captured in images that quickly circulated globally, including in China.

On Weibo, China’s social media platform, related hashtags garnered hundreds of millions of views. Trump has long been a topic of fascination and ridicule in China, partly due to his role in reshaping US-China relations. Some social media users praised Trump’s “quick reflexes” and predicted that the incident might bolster his re-election campaign. One user commented, “Just judging by his quick reaction and agility to duck, I’d vote for Trump. I bet (US President Joe) Biden would take ages to crouch down,” garnering thousands of likes.

Some bloggers drew parallels between this attack and the 2022 assassination of former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, while others highlighted the ongoing issue of gun violence in the US, often criticized by Chinese state media. Comments like “In the land of liberty, gunshots ring out every day” reflected this sentiment.

The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued an official comment, with a spokesperson stating that Chinese leader Xi Jinping “expressed sympathy” to Trump. State-linked media outlets framed the attack as indicative of broader issues within American democracy. An editorial in the Beijing News described the incident as combining “all the political symbols typical of an American election: violence, uncertainty, and tough guys.” Similarly, the Global Times published an op-ed suggesting that political violence in the US stems from severe income inequality and hopelessness about social change.

President Joe Biden addressed the nation from the Oval Office on Sunday evening, condemning “foreign actors” who exploit divisions in the US for their own interests. This statement likely referred to concerns about influence campaigns by rivals like China and Russia, accusations that Beijing denies.

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