China launches humiliation campaign

A wild AI-generated video has gone viral days after President Donald Trump vowed his brutal tariffs will revitalise manufacturing in the US.

A wild AI-generated video of overweight American workers toiling away at sweatshops has gone viral days after President Donald Trump vowed his brutal tariffs will bring factories to the US.

The video – the latest in a slew of AI posts mocking the US over its heavy tariffs on Chinese imports – depicts downcast Americans sewing garments and tinkering away at phone-manufacturing factories while solemn music plays in the background.

The 32-second clip ends with Mr Trump’s “Make America Great Again” refrain.

The post sparked a mix reaction on social media, with some labelling the stunt “hilarious” and defending tariffs on China – which will climb to 104 per cent at midnight US time.

“Well played, China,” one person wrote.

“This is so good,” said another.

“When did China get a sense of humour?” another remarked.

“They can troll, but, they’ve just been destroyed by a stroke of Trump’s pen,” another commented.

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The clip shows downcast American sewing garments. Picture: X

It comes after President Trump promised his sweeping tariffs would revitalise manufacturing in the US and bring about “the golden age of America”.

“It’s our declaration of economic independence,” Mr Trump said during his Liberation Day address last week at Rose Garden.

“Jobs and factories will come roaring back into our country, and you see it happening already. We will supercharge our domestic industrial base,” he said.

“We will pry open foreign markets and break down foreign trade barriers. And ultimately, more production at home will mean stronger competition and lower prices for consumers.”

“Jobs and factories will come roaring back into our country, and you see it happening already.”

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The video has gone viral on social media. Picture: X

Later that day, US Department of Housing and Urban Development Secretary Scott Turner wrote on X that the ream of tariffs would bring “manufacturing and jobs back” to America.

“President Trump is making the American Dream achievable again!” he added.

China slapped with brutal tariffs

Tariffs on Chinese imports will hit 104 per cent at midnight US time, after Mr Trump announced this week he would slap a further 50 per cent tariffs on the nation in response to Beijing’s reciprocal tariffs of 34 per cent on America.

“Any country that Retaliates against the U.S. by issuing additional Tariffs, above and beyond their already existing long term Tariff abuse of our Nation, will be immediately met with new and substantially higher Tariffs, over and above those initially set,” Mr Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social on Monday, US time.

Mr Trump said this week he would slap a further 50 per cent tariffs on China. Picture: Saul Loeb/AFP

“Therefore, if China does not withdraw its 34 pe cent increase above their already long term trading abuses by tomorrow, April 8th, 2025, the United States will impose ADDITIONAL Tariffs on China of 50 per cent, effective April 9th.”

China slams Vance over ‘peasants’ comment

As the trade war deepens between the two nations, China has hit back at Vice President JD Vance who said Washington was borrowing money from “Chinese peasants”.

Speaking to Fox News on Thursday, Mr Vance defended the President’s tariffs as an antidote to a “globalist economy” he said had not worked for ordinary Americans.

“We borrow money from Chinese peasants to buy the things those Chinese peasants manufacture,” he said.

Mr Vance said Washington was borrowing money from “Chinese peasants. Picture: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images/AFP

“That is not a recipe for economic prosperity. It’s not a recipe for low prices, and it’s not a recipe for good jobs in the United States of America.

“President Trump is taking this economy in a different direction.”

Hitting back, China condemned Mr Vance’s “ignorant and impolite” remarks on Tuesday.

“China’s position on China-US economic and trade relations has been made very clear,” foreign ministry spokesman Lin Jian said.

“It is surprising and sad to hear such ignorant and impolite words from this vice president,” he added.

Mr Lin noted there are “no winners” in tariff wars and “pressure, threats and blackmail are not the right way to deal with China”.