Chinese Voices in America Reflect Mao-Era Fears Amid Trump Presidency

New York, NY — Vickie Wang, a 39-year-old stand-up comedian, stays cautious about her jokes after leaving China for the U.S. in 2022. On stage, she avoids criticizing the U.S. administration directly, mindful of the repercussions. “I would never publicly publish something where I directly criticise the government,” she said. Wang spent nearly a decade in Shanghai before relocating to the U.S., where she has experienced both a newfound freedom and an unsettling atmosphere.

Wang recalls a vibrant period of engaging with democracy but notes an unsettling change since the election of Donald Trump. “In China, I knew where the line was, whereas in the U.S., I’m standing on shifting sands,” she explained. Many from China see parallels in Trump’s leadership style to the political climate they escaped, where loyalty to the leader overshadows respect for institutions.

Trump’s admiration for China’s Xi Jinping has drawn attention. Their camaraderie at a recent trade agreement highlighted a worrying trend: the U.S. seems to be adopting characteristics of the Chinese political environment. “The United States is undergoing a period of cultural revolution,” said Zhang Qianfan, a professor at Peking University. He draws similarities between Trump’s grassroots mobilization and Chairman Mao Zedong’s campaigns.

Amid rising tensions, another Chinese exile, Deng Haiyan, has shared his concerns after dealing with backlash for criticizing an American figure following a controversial event. “This incident was a real shock to me. I never imagined that something like this could happen in the United States,” Deng stated, describing a reaction reminiscent of Chinese state tactics.

Maria Repnikova, a Georgia State University professor, warns of growing social surveillance in the U.S., similar to that in China. “That’s starting to emerge here,” she said, referring to students reporting on teachers, a tactic often seen in China.

Meanwhile, liberal Chinese intellectuals are reevaluating their views on the U.S. “America is no longer some kind of god for Chinese liberals,” Zhang noted, expressing disappointment in the decline of the country’s image as a beacon of democracy since Trump took office.

Despite significant differences, including legal protections against executive overreach in the U.S., Trump’s administration has taken steps resembling China’s government overreach into private business. These trends have caused considerable concern among investors and political observers.

While the U.S. remains freer and more open than China, according to experts like Isaac Stone Fish, fears echoing from Mao-era tactics loom over those who once viewed America as a refuge for free expression and democratic ideals.