China Strikes Back: JD Vance Slammed for “Peasant” Comments in Explosive Online Backlash
April 8, 2025
China has launched a fierce rebuttal against U.S. Vice President JD Vance after his recent remarks describing Chinese citizens as “peasants” sparked outrage online. The controversial statement, made during a Fox & Friends interview, has gone viral on Chinese platforms like Weibo, where it was met with a tidal wave of criticism and irony.
Defending President Donald Trump’s tariff policies, Vance said, “What has the globalist economy gotten the United States of America? It’s based on borrowing money from Chinese peasants to buy the things those Chinese peasants manufacture.”
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian responded strongly during a routine press briefing on Tuesday, calling Vance’s words “ignorant and disrespectful.” Lin added, “It’s both astonishing and lamentable to hear this vice president make such remarks.”
The backlash in China was immediate and widespread. Weibo, China’s top microblogging site, saw a hashtag related to Vance’s comments climb to the #1 trending position Monday night, amassing over 140 million views by Tuesday afternoon.
Hu Xijin, former editor-in-chief of the state-affiliated Global Times, mocked Vance’s background by writing, “This true ‘peasant’ from rural America seems to lack perspective. Many are urging him to visit China and see the truth for himself.”
Chinese users fired back with sarcasm and national pride. One viral comment read: “We may be peasants, but we have the world’s best high-speed rail, advanced AI, and the most efficient logistics system. Aren’t we impressive peasants?”
Others pointed out the irony, referencing Vance’s own 2016 memoir Hillbilly Elegy, where he recounts his upbringing in rural Appalachia marked by poverty and struggle. The book became emblematic of the White working-class narrative during Trump’s rise.
As U.S.–China tensions continue to simmer, Vance’s comments may further strain diplomatic and cultural perceptions. Meanwhile, the viral storm serves as a reminder of how quickly a single phrase can ignite global controversy in the age of digital diplomacy.