President’s copycat wins laughs

CHONGQING, China (AFP) — Outstretching his hands in a signature Donald Trump pose, impersonator Ryan Chen mimics the American president’s voice and gestures with such accuracy that he has become a social media phenomenon with his funny videos.

The 42-year-old from southwest China does not engage in political satire — a minefield in the country that can lead to account suspension — but has amassed millions of followers across Instagram, TikTok and Chinese platforms.

“Trump is an endless well that never runs dry, because he draws more online traffic than anyone else on the planet,” Chen told Agence France-Presse (AFP) in his hometown of Chongqing that itself has gone viral over its labyrinthine cityscape and spicy food.

“If I imitate him, it’s not to make fun of him. It’s to get attention,” he told AFP in a white cowboy hat.