Who is Ryan Chen, the 'Chinese Trump' gone viral on TikTok
In his videos, Ryan Chen narrates food, everyday life and Chinese culture in English, with subtitles, always using Trump's mannerisms and language
He stretches out his hands, imitating Donald Trump's voice and gestures with astonishing accuracy. Ryan Chen, 42, lives in Chongqing, southwest China, and has become a social phenomenon thanks to his comedy videos. He avoids political satire, a slippery slope in the country, but has gained millions of followers on Instagram, TikTok and Chinese platforms.
"When you meet a friend in a foreign country, far from home, another world, another city, and suddenly you find someone who knows you: it makes you feel good, it makes you feel safe," Chen jokes, imitating the US president. 'But that's China's Trump, come on,' says one fan, 'I see you on Tik Tok all the time, bro'.
"His impersonation," says a woman from Chen's staff, "is really very realistic, even though he sometimes doubts himself and thinks he still needs to improve. I often tell him that his performance is centred, and I think he is now unrivalled in this area'.
'On the day of President Trump's inauguration,' his impersonator explains, 'a friend and I made a bet on whether I would have the courage to imitate him and post the video on social media. I tried and the response was great. From that moment on, I decided to continue'.
In his videos, Ryan Chen narrates food, daily life and Chinese culture in English, with subtitles, always using Trump's mannerisms and language. A success built on entertainment, which has turned him into a recognisable face far beyond the borders of China.
