Trump’s Visit to China Provides a Propaganda Bonanza
The Chinese news media broke out the hashtags this week as soon as Air Force One landed in Beijing, delivering both President Trump
and an irresistible propaganda opportunity for President Xi Jinping of China.
Mr. Trump asked Mr. Xi if it was true that China’s history dated back 5,000 years, before adding
that "I guess the oldest culture, they say, is Egypt," with 8,000 years of history.
The above photo, printed Friday on the front page of People’s Daily, China’s most read state newspaper, appears to show the American president
applauding Mr. Xi as the Chinese leader basks in the cheers of well-wishers outside the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.
Mr. Trump’s visit came just weeks after Mr. Xi won a second five-year term as China’s leader.
Mr. Trump was warmly received in China’s most prominent news outlets, which praised
him as a pragmatic leader who, nevertheless, could be friendlier toward China.
Mr. Trump made it easy, flattering Mr. Xi at every turn
and blaming the massive trade deficit between the United States and China on previous American leaders.