Even without a blonde combover wig, impersonator Ryan Chen captures Donald Trump’s outstretched hand gestures and trademark bravado so convincingly that his funny videos have made him a social media phenomenon.
The 42-year-old from southwest China does not engage in political satire but has amassed millions of followers across Instagram, TikTok and Chinese platforms.
Chen told AFP in his hometown of Chongqing: ‘Trump is an endless well that never runs dry, because he draws more online traffic than anyone else on the planet.’
During his videos, Chen lightheartedly presents Chinese cuisine, customs, cultural differences, jokes with foreigners and dances to Village People’s YMCA, one of Trump’s trademark stage songs.
All of his videos are filled with Trump’s unmistakable mannerisms and buzzwords like ‘tremendous’ and ‘amazing.’
Chen, who has been following Trump since he hosted The Apprentice, said: ‘I’m not into politics, but I think he is a very good entertainer.
‘If I imitate him, it’s not to make fun of him. It’s to get attention.
‘With that attention, I can boost my career, as well as promote China and my hometown.’
Chen, who had never even visited the US before this year, stumbled across his online fame by chance, only taking off in 2025 with Trump’s return to the White House.
He started making online videos to teach English as a ‘back-up plan’ from his job in architecture, a sector that has been hit hard by the property crisis in China.
His videos had moderate success, but only went viral after a friend challenged him to imitate Trump.
Chen’s profile rose further in April when he appeared on a livestream hosted by IShowSpeed, an American YouTuber with more than 47 million subscribers, who was visiting China at the time.
Trump now feels ‘like a next-door neighbour’ to Chen, having become such a big part of his life.
Chen sees himself as a ‘bridge’ between international internet users eager to discover urban China, its ‘lively’ atmosphere, and Chinese people keen to understand foreign humour and cultures.
The viral impersonator now has more than a million followers on Instagram, almost as many on TikTok and more than 2.5 million on Chinese platforms.
Chen, who learned English by watching his favourite American series, is also often recognised on the streets.
He said his secret is to sound like a ‘native speaker’ while also staying tuned to news on Trump, who is ‘a goldmine of funny material.’
He is now able to make a living from his work through promotion, events and corporate parties.
‘My main source of income is advertising,’ he said, with brands for cars, digital products, games, or milk hiring him for their campaigns.
Chen has also obtained a visa for the US, which he is currently visiting for the first time.
With Trump set to visit China this year, Chen has called on the president to travel to Chongqing and ‘try out hotpot’, which is famously spicy.
Although Chen thinks a meeting between the real Trump and himself would ‘probably be cool’, he has no ‘burning desire’ to do so because it would quickly become a diplomatic affair.
‘I’m just a comedian,’ he said. ‘I have no political aspirations.’
The Metro has also spoken to a Kim Jong Un impersonator who was even followed by secret service thanks to his spot on dictator impression.
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