Let’s face it, Trump memes are the flavour of the season, no matter what season or where. And on China’s social media, Trump memes, cartoons and video clips do the rounds, netizens making fun of the man they heartily dislike.
A current meme going viral on the web is the prayer for Trump at the White House last week. Videos circulating show him seated at his table surrounded by a clutch of Christian pastors and others …
“We pray for wisdom from heaven to flood his heart, his mind,” intoned a senior pastor standing next to Trump with his right hand on his shoulder, “and Lord you will guide him in the challenging times we are facing today.”
One would have thought the pastors could have come earlier, and prevented a war that is debilitating the world. The thought would have occurred to Chinese netizens, dependent as their country is on imported energy.
Across Chinese social media platforms, the scene has morphed into a viral meme with a distinct local overtones, such as “Pray for Success,” a quintessentially Chinese practice especially before exams or interviews.
It’s happening everywhere, from boardrooms to shop floors, with employees and managers getting together to imitate the White House prayer. Workers place their hands on each other’s shoulders or heads while mimicking the prayer pose. Don’t miss the man in the middle, seated cross-legged with a shoe in each hand.
Also remember, this is an officially atheist state which frowns upon public displays of religiosity. At the same time, political messaging could be misunderstood, so the participants jokingly “pray” for better sales, higher wages for workers and stronger company profits.
For many business owners, the videos have become a way to promote their companies online while participating in a trending meme.
The meme has also spread beyond workplaces.
Students have begun filming similar videos where groups gather together and pray (if that is the word)) for good exam results and higher grades.
Pop culture parodies emerge
Some parody clips go even further, introducing pop culture characters into the trend. One widely shared video shows a character resembling Ultraman (his uniform matches the US flag) sitting in the same prayer pose.
It’s also important to note that China’s social media content can be seen as part of a broader digital information strategy, where satire, cartoons and AI-edited clips shape narratives around global developments.
