Chongqing, China
—
Capitalizing on his presidential idol’s casual hyperbole, “China’s Trump” gave our interview a score of 67 out of 10.
He said so calmly. Cheer up. With absolute confidence. Just like when people stand in a huge city and there seem to be fans on every street corner.
Here in Chongqing, a city of 32 million people in southwestern China, business manager Ryan Chen has developed such an eerie impression that strangers stop eating their lunch and look up with bites when they hear his voice.
In October, on the same day as Mr. Trump’s long-awaited summit in South Korea with Chinese leader Xi Jinping, Mr. Chen’s fame became clear as he made his way through a crowded, fog-shrouded street.
Fans molested him like a Hollywood star. Another phone was thrust into his orbit. Another group photo. The other question is, “Can you make a sound?”
And then comes his Trump theory.
Introducing comedians who imitate President Trump, which is a hot topic in China
CNN’s Mike Valerio visits the Chinese metropolis of Chongqing, where Ryan Chen, a 42-year-old business manager who has become an impersonator of President Trump, takes him on a tour of the city and talks about how he hopes to use his newfound Internet stardom to bridge cultural divides.
Cheng combines the perfect Trump impression with Trumpian salesmanship to convey the best of China.
Where can I find delicious hotpot in Chongqing? “The best, the best.” The glittering skyline that makes his hometown look like Hong Kong? “It’s absolutely incredible.”
“Ask me how I’m feeling today and I’ll tell you. I’m feeling great,” Chen declared with a mixture of bombast and deadpan, satire and sincerity.
Chen imitates Trump’s voice with eerie precision, but that talent has only been seen in public since January, and all because Chen lost a bet.
“I did Truth and Dare with a friend and we lost,” he told me. “And[my friend]said let me play cards and put it on my account and see what happens.”
This video went viral.
For millions of people across China, especially those who are digitally curious and watch the United States from afar, Mr. Chen has become a lone entry point into the American presidency without the burden of geopolitical baggage.
Chen is currently one of the most popular English-language creators in China, with more than 2 million followers on Instagram and Douyin, China’s version of TikTok.
He understands America’s media feed better than many people who grew up in it. This is an amazing accomplishment for a man who has never been to America.
And he is using President Trump’s impression to promote his hometown, Chongqing, and China as a tourist destination. But his videos walk a tightrope on China’s heavily monitored social media platforms.
“I try to keep everything apolitical,” he said. “I promote my culture, my food, and basically show what China is really like.”
So I joined Mr. Chen for a day and experienced a carefully curated Trump-style pitch for Chongqing.
We ate lunch inside a packed restaurant with red plaid tablecloths and about a dozen tables. Steam was billowing out of the kitchen, as if the cooks were trying to season the air. Chen ordered all courses.
Tofu pudding topped with hot dipping sauce. Sichuan flavored pork. And the chef’s signature dish is braised pork belly with fermented cabbage on the bottom.
“This is my go-to… it melts as soon as you put it in your mouth,” Chen said.
“It’s really incredible, only in Chongqing,” he added, moving his hands as if playing an invisible accordion.
And then came the Millennium Egg. “It tastes like MSG,” Chen said. And when the nearby guests half turned their heads to see if the foreigner liked it, Chen saw my expression of joy. In his Trump voice, he declared, “I love this guy! He loves everything! He loves all the controversial foods!”
Outside, skyscrapers broke through the fog and looked like a theater scene. The number of fans has increased. Even more calls. Then, I visited Chen’s barber shop, Mr. Tom.
This person is the one who takes care of Mr. Chen’s hair. “He’s very professional, this guy,” Trump’s voice boomed.
Chen sat down. Scissors hummed. He guided the cuts like a director choreographing his own silhouettes.
“You’ll look 30 pounds lighter after this. We had a promise, right? A deal is a deal, right?”
cut. Dust. brush. reveal.
“It’s amazing,” Chen said, staring at his reflection.
Mr. Tom followed the command and exclaimed, “Wow!”
Chen says she enjoys her job because laughter can bridge barriers, even between superpowers. His fans say the same thing. He’s showing them a China that feels confident, interesting and cosmopolitan.
And having just arrived in China a few weeks ago, I found myself unexpectedly enlightened by a person impersonating President Trump in an area of the country that usually doesn’t get many tourists.
Chen’s wide appeal to audiences in the United States and China shows that language is no barrier to sharing a laugh.
What’s next? He is gradually finishing his day job at an architecture firm and wants to pursue acting full-time.
His dream was a bold, perhaps cinematic one: to visit America for the first time.
More specifically, he wants to jump into New York, the city that birthed Trump.
“I want to experience a little bit of chaos and embrace it and see how it really feels,” Chen said.
Yes, Chen’s voice is amazing. Yes, viral fame is on the rise.
But by Dusk in Chongqing, I realized that the biggest thing Cheng wanted in his imitation was also probably the simplest thing: joy.
