By Charles Switzer
2:57pm PDT, Apr 12, 2025
AI-Generated Posts Mock U.S. Trade War and Tariffs
Chinese social media accounts are using AI-generated content to respond to the ongoing trade tensions between China and the U.S., mocking American figures such as President Donald Trump and DOGE leader Elon Musk.
These posts feature memes that showcase Americans working in factories — such as a scene where Trump and Musk are seen on a production line for Nike sneakers, among others.
The AI footage, which was posted by Chinese government officials and media outlets, presents these figures in blue jumpsuits, working alongside Vice President J.D. Vance assembling iPhones, with his red hat noticeably lacking the MAGA logo.
The satirical content has been widely shared, gaining millions of views across platforms like TikTok and X.
Here’s a sampling of how China really feels about the Trump admin.
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Chinese Government Responses to U.S. Tariffs
The memes and videos go beyond mocking the trade war — they also target Donald Trump’s policies, particularly his imposition of tariffs on Chinese imports.
One AI-generated post from Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning showed red MAGA hats with a “Made in China” tag, and a price increase of $27.
Ning responded to Trump’s 104 percent tariffs by defiantly stating, “We are Chinese. We are not afraid of provocations. We don’t back down.”
Additionally, Chinese state media outlets such as Beijing Business Daily and CGTN released humorous posts and videos poking fun at Trump’s decisions, including a music video parody of Taylor Swift’s “Look What You Made Me Do” titled “Look What You Taxed Us Through.”
Viral Memes and Videos Across Social Media
The AI-generated trolling content has rapidly spread across social media, receiving significant attention.
A viral TikTok post by user Ben Lau mocked Trump’s “Make America Great Again” slogan, showing images of Americans working in sweatshops while traditional Chinese music played in the background.
These videos, which target American labor and trade policies, have sparked widespread reactions online and continue to accumulate millions of views.
Trump’s Tariff Pause and Market Reactions
On the heels of the viral content, President Donald Trump announced a temporary pause on reciprocal tariffs, including those on China, after massive Treasury bond market selloffs.
This 90-day pause helped the U.S. stock markets rally, with the S&P 500 and Nasdaq experiencing their best gains in decades. However, concerns linger about the long-term impact of the trade war, and Trump has signaled the possibility of imposing even higher tariffs.
“We are doing really well on our TARIFF POLICY. Very exciting for America, and the World!!! It is moving along quickly,” Trump posted on Truth Social Friday, April 11.
China’s Vow to Resist Further Tariff Escalation
China has strongly rejected the U.S. tariffs, with the Chinese Commerce Ministry vowing to “fight to the end” against the new measures. The ministry issued a statement condemning the escalation, describing the U.S. approach as “blackmailing” and asserting that the tariffs threaten international trade stability.
China stated, “If the US insists on its own way, China will fight to the end,” reinforcing its commitment to safeguarding its sovereignty and economic interests despite the ongoing trade tensions.
The U.S. remains China’s largest trading partner, and these escalating tariffs continue to exacerbate the complex trade dynamics between the two nations.
