From superhero spoofs to robots representing tariffs, Chinese state-run media is using artificial intelligence videos to ridicule President Donald Trump’s trade policies. In a series of videos from various Chinese media groups, Trump is portrayed as a hero to the Chinese Communist Party whose tariffs backfire on the U.S. economy, hurting American consumers while strengthening China.
Although the AI satire may raise eyebrows, the messaging is strategic, surfacing amid escalating economic tensions between the two countries.
Beijing’s AI ‘Tariff Man’ superhero
A Chinese commercial video created with artificial intelligence has gone viral, garnering millions of views. The video depicts Trump as a superhero dubbed “Tariff Man,” mocking his aggressive trade policy with China.
Trump appears in a Superman suit in the video. His superpower is tariffs, levied broadly on imports from China. But rather than showing it benefiting the U.S., the cartoon portrays the tariffs as backfiring — hurting the U.S. economy while inadvertently helping China, therefore depicting Trump as a superhero for the CCP.
AI singing video mocks Trump’s Liberation Day
Another satirical video, produced by China’s state-run English-language news agency CGTN, shows an AI-generated singer mocking what it describes as the negative effects of U.S. tariffs on cheap Chinese goods.
“‘Liberation Day,’ you promised us the stars, but tariffs killed our cheap Chinese cars,” the voice sings.
Set to the visuals of grocery store receipts and struggling shoppers, the video accuses Trump’s policies of raising prices for Americans and damaging the U.S. economy.
“You taxed each truck, you taxed each tire. Midwest burning in your dumpster fire,” the lyrics read.
The video ends with a sarcastic thank you to Trump, singing, “Thanks for the tariffs and the mess you made.”
Robot named ‘Tariff’ self-destructs
In another video published by Chinese media, a robot character named “Tariff” delivers an ominous monologue.
The robot says, “Aggressive tariffs, implementing now. Calculating consequences: Unemployment rates rising, cost of living increasing, disruption of trade.”
Later, it reflects on the devastation caused.
“I can see the consequences of my actions, Dr. Mallory. The trade wars, the unrest, the people who suffer, and the retaliation.”
At the end of the video, the robot announces its own self-destruction, or end to tariffs in the broader metaphor, in order to end the “harm” it caused.
“I now choose death to end the harm,” the robot says before exploding at the end of the video.
Propaganda with purpose
These AI-generated productions may seem cringeworthy to Western audiences, but their narrative goal is clear. Chinese state-run media — heavily influenced or controlled by the Communist Party — are crafting digital narratives portraying Trump’s trade actions as reckless and destructive, alleging dire global consequences and placing blame of any economic disruptions solely on Trump and U.S. trade policy.
Tariff standoff continues
Tensions remain high between Washington and Beijing. After Trump’s “Liberation Day” tariffs, the U.S. imposed a 145% levy on Chinese goods. China retaliated with its own 125% tariff on U.S. goods.
Last month, both nations agreed to a 90-day tariff truce as trade negotiations resumed. However, according to White House Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, those talks have since stalled.
In a Truth Social post early Wednesday morning, Trump wrote, “I like President Xi of China, always have, and always will, but he is VERY TOUGH, AND EXTREMELY HARD TO MAKE A DEAL WITH!!!”
For a full timeline of U.S.-China trade relations since Liberation Day, and a breakdown of the events leading to what’s now being referred to as “supply chain warfare,” you can find further coverage of U.S.-China trade in our story here.
