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Chinese State Media Amplifies Governor Newsom’s Trump Criticism
California Governor Gavin Newsom has become an unexpected favorite of Chinese state-controlled media, which has extensively featured his criticisms of former President Donald Trump and his administration in recent months.
Multiple outlets under Beijing’s control, including CGTN, Xinhua News Service, Global Times, and China Daily, have published dozens of articles and videos highlighting Newsom’s opposition to Trump policies. Academic research suggests this aligns with China’s media strategy to portray the United States as “poorly governed, plutocratic, racist, and a destabilizing international influence.”
The Chinese state media apparatus has shown particular interest in Newsom’s stance against Trump’s trade policies. Headlines from CGTN declare “California seeks emergency halt to Trump tariffs as economic harm mounts” and “California governor warns of ‘code red’ economic emergency due to high tariffs.” China Daily published an opinion piece arguing that “‘Make America Great Again’ is raiding people’s wallets,” citing Newsom’s legal challenges as evidence of domestic discontent.
This coverage pattern serves Beijing’s strategic interests in the ongoing trade tensions between the two global powers. By consistently portraying U.S. tariffs negatively and Newsom’s opposition positively, Chinese media reinforces narratives that align with China’s goal of reducing American trade restrictions.
Beyond trade issues, Chinese outlets have amplified Newsom’s criticism of European leaders for their perceived cooperation with Trump. A January Xinhua article quoted Newsom urging America’s allies to “buck up” and “get serious and stop being complicit,” adding they should “get off your knees and grow a spine.” Such messaging aligns with Beijing’s long-term objective of creating distance between the United States and its European allies.
The reach of these stories is significant. China’s state-run media maintains an extensive social media presence with hundreds of millions of followers. Despite platform disclaimers about state affiliations, these outlets effectively distribute content globally, including numerous short-form videos featuring Newsom criticizing Trump.
One CGTN clip from January shows Newsom comparing diplomacy with Trump to interacting with a dinosaur: “He’s a T. Rex, you mate with him, or he devours you.” In another video, Newsom speaks directly to a CGTN reporter expressing hope for increased “mutual respect” between China and the U.S., suggesting America should extend an “open hand” rather than a “closed fist” when dealing with Beijing.
CGTN, which operates under the Chinese Communist Party’s Central Propaganda Department, has previously faced criticism for running advertisements downplaying China’s treatment of Uyghur Muslims—actions that both Republican and Democratic administrations have characterized as genocide. Newsom’s press office did not respond to inquiries about whether the governor was aware of CGTN’s CCP affiliation before engaging with the outlet.
The governor has faced domestic criticism for his approach to China relations. During a weeklong visit to China in October 2023, Newsom admitted he did not confront Chinese President Xi Jinping about the repression of Uyghurs or pro-democracy advocates—a decision that drew condemnation from human rights organizations.
This media dynamic illustrates the complex interplay between domestic U.S. politics and China’s information strategy, as Beijing continues to leverage American political divisions in its international messaging.
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20 Comments
Interesting to see how Chinese state media is amplifying Governor Newsom’s criticism of the former Trump administration. I wonder if this is part of a broader strategy to portray the US in a negative light.
Agreed, the coverage does seem to align with China’s media tactics. It will be worth watching how this narrative plays out.
While I don’t agree with the Chinese government’s authoritarian tendencies, I do think it’s valuable to understand their media strategies and how they’re attempting to influence the narrative.
Absolutely. Gaining insight into their tactics, even if we disagree with them, can help us better navigate the geopolitical landscape.
While I understand the geopolitical motivations behind China’s media coverage, I’m a bit skeptical of how much influence it will actually have on US domestic politics.
That’s a fair point. Domestic US audiences may not be swayed much by this kind of foreign state media coverage, even if it aligns with certain political narratives.
The Chinese state media’s portrayal of the US as “poorly governed, plutocratic, racist, and a destabilizing international influence” is certainly a provocative framing. It will be interesting to see how that narrative evolves.
Yes, that’s a very pointed and confrontational characterization. It will be important to monitor how that messaging is received, both domestically and internationally.
It’s an interesting dynamic – a Democratic governor in the US being amplified by authoritarian state media in China. I wonder what the long-term implications could be.
Yes, the optics of that are certainly intriguing. It speaks to the complex geopolitical landscape we’re navigating.
I’m curious to see if this favorable coverage of Newsom by Chinese media will have any impact on his political standing within the US. It’s a complex dynamic to navigate.
That’s a good question. It’s unlikely to have a major impact, but it could potentially be used by Newsom’s political opponents to try and undermine him.
I’m curious to see if this favorable coverage of Newsom will continue, or if it’s just a temporary tactic. Politics can be unpredictable, especially in the US-China relationship.
That’s a good point. The media landscape can shift quickly, so it will be interesting to monitor how this plays out over time.
The Chinese state media’s strategy of highlighting domestic discontent in the US is not surprising. They seem to be trying to portray the US as unstable and poorly governed.
Yes, it’s a classic tactic of authoritarian regimes to try and undermine the credibility of democratic rivals. We’ll have to see if it gains any traction.
The Chinese media’s focus on Newsom’s stance against Trump’s trade policies is understandable, given the ongoing tensions between the two countries. It’s a complex geopolitical situation.
Yes, the trade war has had significant economic impacts, so it makes sense that China would seize on this angle to criticize the previous US administration.
The Chinese media’s focus on Newsom’s legal challenges to Trump’s trade policies is understandable, but I wonder if they’re overlooking the nuances of the US political system.
Good point. The US is a complex democracy, and it’s unlikely that foreign state media can fully capture the intricacies of its domestic politics.