Erin Burnett blown away as Trump 'mocked across China': 'America has lost its swagger'
Bennito L. Kelty
May 13, 2026
RAW STORY
Erin Burnett read social media posts from China that mocked Trump as he met with Xi Jinping (CNN/Screenshot)
CNN anchor Erin Burnett was stunned to see the level of uninhibited mockery China has been hurling at Trump during his visit.
"Trump is about to meet with Chinese leader Xi Jinping tonight, a high-stakes meeting which is being mocked across China," Burnett explained. "Beijing's strict censors are letting the ridicule go viral, which is a statement in and of itself."
"America has lost its swagger. They're nothing but a paper tiger," one of those viral posts read. "The U.S. economy is in bad shape. Trump has been blustering Iran for so long."
"They will look up to us from now on," read another post that Burnett shared. "Trump came to China! We won the tariff war!" read another.
"Trump, you're welcome to visit China and learn from us," the mockery continued.
"The U.S. is no longer a country that we look up to. We can now compete with them with confidence and strength," a Chinese social media user wrote.
"In China, political content like this never goes viral, especially when you have a head of state coming," Burnett explained. "This is because government censors want this to go viral, and by the tone of the messages, the Chinese government feels they've got the upper hand."
CNN reporter taken aback as Chinese residents let Trump have it
Alexander Willis
May 13, 2026
RAW STORY
Beijing, China resident Mr. Liu speaks to CNN on Wednesday, May 13, 2026.
Beijing, China resident Mr. Liu speaks to CNN on Wednesday, May 13, 2026.
(Screengrab / CNN)
President Donald Trump landed in China on Wednesday ahead of his high-stakes summit with President Xi Jinping, reportedly hoping for help with his deeply unpopular war against Iran – but Beijing residents interviewed by CNN were quick to pour cold water on the idea.
“I don't have a good impression of President Donald Trump at all,” one Beijing resident, identified as Mr. Liu, told CNN. “The U.S.-Iran conflict was stirred up by him, too. Look at the trade and economic war before, wasn't that him too?”
CNN’s Boris Sanchez said, citing U.S. officials, Trump is “expected to encourage Xi to push Iran to re-open the Strait of Hormuz,” a critical shipping waterway through which a fifth of the world’s oil trade historically flows. On the ground in Beijing, CNN’s Mike Valerio reiterated Sanchez’s claim and expressed shock at the pushback he personally heard from Beijing residents.
“What's important for everybody back home in America to know: deals and getting help with the war in Iran are far and away the two biggest topics the president is going to raise in his meeting with President Xi Jinping,” Valerio said.
“In terms of asking for help from China to re-open the Strait of Hormuz, we went up and down throughout town in Beijing most of the day yesterday, and I was so struck by so many who told us they do not want China getting involved at all in this U.S.-Israeli war.”
President Donald Trump landed in China on Wednesday ahead of his high-stakes summit with President Xi Jinping, reportedly hoping for help with his deeply unpopular war against Iran – but Beijing residents interviewed by CNN were quick to pour cold water on the idea.
“I don't have a good impression of President Donald Trump at all,” one Beijing resident, identified as Mr. Liu, told CNN. “The U.S.-Iran conflict was stirred up by him, too. Look at the trade and economic war before, wasn't that him too?”
CNN’s Boris Sanchez said, citing U.S. officials, Trump is “expected to encourage Xi to push Iran to re-open the Strait of Hormuz,” a critical shipping waterway through which a fifth of the world’s oil trade historically flows. On the ground in Beijing, CNN’s Mike Valerio reiterated Sanchez’s claim and expressed shock at the pushback he personally heard from Beijing residents.
“What's important for everybody back home in America to know: deals and getting help with the war in Iran are far and away the two biggest topics the president is going to raise in his meeting with President Xi Jinping,” Valerio said.
“In terms of asking for help from China to re-open the Strait of Hormuz, we went up and down throughout town in Beijing most of the day yesterday, and I was so struck by so many who told us they do not want China getting involved at all in this U.S.-Israeli war.”
Beijing resident Mr. Li, for instance, told CNN it was not China’s "diplomatic principle” to get involved in such matters. Ms. Yuan, another Beijing resident, was more blunt in her opposition.
“I don't think China should interfere too much in those kinds of issues,” she told CNN.
Trump’s visit to China already got off to “a rocky start,” according to the progressive advocacy platform Call To Activism, after the president stepped off Air Force One to be greeted not by Xi, but by lower-ranking Chinese officials, the optics of which Mary L. Trump, Trump’s niece, described as “humiliating.”
U.S. President Donald Trump arrives aboard Air Force One at Beijing Capital International Airport during his visit to the country, in Beijing, China, May 13, 2026.
REUTERS/Evan Vucci TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY
May 13, 2026
ALTERNET
CNN reported Wednesday morning (U.S. time) that during the 20-plus-hour flight President Donald Trump took from Washington D.C. to Beijing on Tuesday and Wednesday, he never once spoke to the press, which is unusual.
As the president landed in China ahead of his summit with Xi Jinping, Senior White House correspondent Kristen Holmes reported that a number of tech CEOs were on the plane with Trump while others took the overflow plane.
"So you see them now opening the door, John, and we'll wait and see how long President Trump takes to actually come out and greet everyone," continued Holmes. "He's been on a long flight and he didn't talk to the press at all, which is incredibly notable. A guy who loves talking to the press, particularly when he's on a 20-or-so-hour flight, he did not do that this time around."
Co-host Kate Bolduan keyed in on the comments and how unusual it was.
"That was actually going to be my question because I was — we of course, as we woke up to the news, you know, woke up to knowing that you guys were all flying over waiting and kind of expecting" Trump to speak to the press, Bolduan explained.
"Are we going to get some information or a gaggle, if nothing else, of the president?" the host asked.
Co-host John Berman returned to the matter in a later conversation, saying that Trump allowed his final remarks about Iran and America's economic situation to marinate in the political news.
Trump on Tuesday, before departing for China, told reporters he doesn't think "even a little bit" about Americans' financial situation when executing the war in Iran.
“The only thing that matters when I'm talking about Iran, they can't have a nuclear weapon. I don't think about Americans' financial situation. I don't think about anybody. I think about one thing: We cannot let Iran have a nuclear weapon," Trump said Tuesday.
'Glaring': Speculation abounds as Melania noticeably absent from husband's China trip
Nicole Charky-Chami
May 13, 2026
Nicole Charky-Chami
May 13, 2026
RAW STORY
President Donald Trump and First lady Melania Trump walk to attend an event to mark Military Mother's Day, in the East Room at the White House in Washington, D.C., on May 6, 2026. REUTERS/Kylie Cooper
President Donald Trump's high-stakes three-day China visit has revealed one person conspicuously missing — his wife, First Lady Melania Trump.
Trump was accompanied to Beijing with his cabinet, his son Eric, and daughter-in-law Lara, and 16 corporate CEOs, The Daily Beast reported. And hours before taking off to leave the United States, the first lady's office dropped a cryptic confirmation in a statement to the South China Morning Post, without any explanation for why she would miss out on the trip.
"First Lady Melania Trump is not travelling this time," Melania's spokesperson said.
When pressed for additional details, her team went silent.
The snub marks the latest chapter in what insiders describe as a widening rift between the first couple.
"The move comes amid speculation about the first lady increasingly breaking with her husband as she seems to be trying to charter her own course," The Beast reported. "Trump and his White House aides were reportedly blindsided last month when she called a surprise press conference to read a statement declaring she had no ties to the late sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein. The move appeared only to revive the scandal that Trump himself had been eager to put to rest."
Melania has been noticeably absent at the White House throughout the second Trump administration and often does not travel with the president. And although first ladies don't always attend trips, the questions around her attendance have raised eyebrows.
"Her absence is all the more glaring because it follows a trend that has stood out in Trump’s second term: She’s been appearing alongside him less and less on state visits," according to The Beast.
President Donald Trump and First lady Melania Trump walk to attend an event to mark Military Mother's Day, in the East Room at the White House in Washington, D.C., on May 6, 2026. REUTERS/Kylie Cooper
President Donald Trump's high-stakes three-day China visit has revealed one person conspicuously missing — his wife, First Lady Melania Trump.
Trump was accompanied to Beijing with his cabinet, his son Eric, and daughter-in-law Lara, and 16 corporate CEOs, The Daily Beast reported. And hours before taking off to leave the United States, the first lady's office dropped a cryptic confirmation in a statement to the South China Morning Post, without any explanation for why she would miss out on the trip.
"First Lady Melania Trump is not travelling this time," Melania's spokesperson said.
When pressed for additional details, her team went silent.
The snub marks the latest chapter in what insiders describe as a widening rift between the first couple.
"The move comes amid speculation about the first lady increasingly breaking with her husband as she seems to be trying to charter her own course," The Beast reported. "Trump and his White House aides were reportedly blindsided last month when she called a surprise press conference to read a statement declaring she had no ties to the late sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein. The move appeared only to revive the scandal that Trump himself had been eager to put to rest."
Melania has been noticeably absent at the White House throughout the second Trump administration and often does not travel with the president. And although first ladies don't always attend trips, the questions around her attendance have raised eyebrows.
"Her absence is all the more glaring because it follows a trend that has stood out in Trump’s second term: She’s been appearing alongside him less and less on state visits," according to The Beast.
Jen Psaki mocks Vance as Trump jets off without him: 'Doing his homework while Dad's away'
Matthew Chapman
May 13, 2026
The Trump administration's Medicaid cuts, which California's attorney general said will gut programs that help seniors and people with disabilities remain in their homes, were unveiled with what Psaki described as unusual fanfare — "tons of pomp and circumstance."
The timing was no accident, she argued. Vance made the announcement the day before California Gov. Gavin Newsom was scheduled to unveil the state's annual budget, delivering a one-two punch intended to dominate news cycles and put Newsom on defense.
"Politically speaking, today was kind of a twofer," Psaki said. "He got some headlines to stay relevant while Marco got to ride on the big plane to go do big boy stuff in China. And he got to attack Gavin Newsom."
Newsom is widely considered one of Vance's most formidable potential rivals in the 2028 presidential race, making California a particularly attractive target for the vice president's political maneuvering.
Matthew Chapman
May 13, 2026
RAW STORY
(Screengrab via MS NOW)
Vice President JD Vance drew sharp ridicule from MS NOW host Jen Psaki on Tuesday after he gleefully announced the suspension of more than $1.3 billion in Medicaid payments to California — a move Psaki framed as a naked bid for attention while his political rivals grabbed the spotlight.
"JD Vance is desperately trying to remind dad he's still his most special boy," Psaki quipped on her show, mocking the announcement as political theater designed to keep Vance relevant while Secretary of State Marco Rubio accompanied President Donald Trump to China. "He's still doing his homework, even though dad's away on his big work trip."
Vance himself joked about the seeming disconnect, comparing himself to Macaulay Culkin's character in "Home Alone."
(Screengrab via MS NOW)
Vice President JD Vance drew sharp ridicule from MS NOW host Jen Psaki on Tuesday after he gleefully announced the suspension of more than $1.3 billion in Medicaid payments to California — a move Psaki framed as a naked bid for attention while his political rivals grabbed the spotlight.
"JD Vance is desperately trying to remind dad he's still his most special boy," Psaki quipped on her show, mocking the announcement as political theater designed to keep Vance relevant while Secretary of State Marco Rubio accompanied President Donald Trump to China. "He's still doing his homework, even though dad's away on his big work trip."
Vance himself joked about the seeming disconnect, comparing himself to Macaulay Culkin's character in "Home Alone."
The Trump administration's Medicaid cuts, which California's attorney general said will gut programs that help seniors and people with disabilities remain in their homes, were unveiled with what Psaki described as unusual fanfare — "tons of pomp and circumstance."
The timing was no accident, she argued. Vance made the announcement the day before California Gov. Gavin Newsom was scheduled to unveil the state's annual budget, delivering a one-two punch intended to dominate news cycles and put Newsom on defense.
"Politically speaking, today was kind of a twofer," Psaki said. "He got some headlines to stay relevant while Marco got to ride on the big plane to go do big boy stuff in China. And he got to attack Gavin Newsom."
Newsom is widely considered one of Vance's most formidable potential rivals in the 2028 presidential race, making California a particularly attractive target for the vice president's political maneuvering.
'Amateur hour': CBS News' MAGA-friendly anchor's Taiwan broadcast ends in shambles
Travis Gettys
May 14, 2026
Tony Dokoupil/CBS News-YouTube
"CBS Evening News" anchor Tony Dokoupil’s first broadcast from Taiwan ended in shambles after his cameraman suffered an on-air medical emergency.
The MAGA-coded anchorman was introducing the summit between President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping when the camera shot tilted and producers abruptly cut to B-roll footage, reported The Daily Beast.
“Is he okay?” Dokoupil asked after a thud could be heard off camera. “We’re gonna take a quick break, we have an — a medical emergency here. We’re calling a doctor."
Producers showed more B-roll footage of Chinese landscapes played before cutting to a studio shot of CBS News chief correspondent Matt Gutman.
“So I’m going to sign off for Tony Dokoupil, who’s been reporting in Taiwan,” Gutman told viewers. “We’re going to go to break, we’ll be right back.”
CBS News later confirmed on its X account that the camera operator had suffered a medical emergency during the broadcast and made clear that he was expected to recover.
Dokoupil was broadcasting from Taipei instead of Beijing because the network failed to secure a Chinese visa for the anchor, although it's not clear whether the lapse was due to a late application or another issue.
Prior to the emergency, the broadcast had been bedeviled by awkward pauses and technical difficulties.
Dokoupil repeatedly fiddled with his earpiece, which led to lengthy pauses during a handoff from White House correspondent Weijia Jiang reporting live from Beijing and after foreign correspondent Anna Coren finished her report.
“Amateur, amateur, amateur hour," an Emmy-winning network TV executive told the Daily Beast.
The evening news program has seen its rating tumble to just 3.7 million, with only 473,000 average viewers in the closely watched advertising demo of 25-54-year-olds, since conservative pundit Bari Weiss took over as editor-in-chief.
That's far behind "ABC World News Tonight," which averaged 8.2 million total viewers and 976,000 in the key demo, and "NBC Nightly News," which averaged 6.1 million and 903,000, respectively.
Travis Gettys
May 14, 2026
RAW STORY
Tony Dokoupil/CBS News-YouTube
"CBS Evening News" anchor Tony Dokoupil’s first broadcast from Taiwan ended in shambles after his cameraman suffered an on-air medical emergency.
The MAGA-coded anchorman was introducing the summit between President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping when the camera shot tilted and producers abruptly cut to B-roll footage, reported The Daily Beast.
“Is he okay?” Dokoupil asked after a thud could be heard off camera. “We’re gonna take a quick break, we have an — a medical emergency here. We’re calling a doctor."
Producers showed more B-roll footage of Chinese landscapes played before cutting to a studio shot of CBS News chief correspondent Matt Gutman.
“So I’m going to sign off for Tony Dokoupil, who’s been reporting in Taiwan,” Gutman told viewers. “We’re going to go to break, we’ll be right back.”
CBS News later confirmed on its X account that the camera operator had suffered a medical emergency during the broadcast and made clear that he was expected to recover.
Dokoupil was broadcasting from Taipei instead of Beijing because the network failed to secure a Chinese visa for the anchor, although it's not clear whether the lapse was due to a late application or another issue.
Prior to the emergency, the broadcast had been bedeviled by awkward pauses and technical difficulties.
Dokoupil repeatedly fiddled with his earpiece, which led to lengthy pauses during a handoff from White House correspondent Weijia Jiang reporting live from Beijing and after foreign correspondent Anna Coren finished her report.
“Amateur, amateur, amateur hour," an Emmy-winning network TV executive told the Daily Beast.
The evening news program has seen its rating tumble to just 3.7 million, with only 473,000 average viewers in the closely watched advertising demo of 25-54-year-olds, since conservative pundit Bari Weiss took over as editor-in-chief.
That's far behind "ABC World News Tonight," which averaged 8.2 million total viewers and 976,000 in the key demo, and "NBC Nightly News," which averaged 6.1 million and 903,000, respectively.
'Appalling' director's surprise appearance during Trump's China trip incenses analyst
Robert Davis
May 13, 2026
Robert Davis
May 13, 2026
RAW STORY
President Xi Jinping shaking hands with U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth. The scene as U.S. President Donald Trump participates in events at the Great Hall of the People and does a greeting with the President of the People’s Republic of China Xi Jinping May 14, 2026, in Beijing China during a trip focused on trade, regional security, and strengthening bilateral ties between the world’s two largest economies. Kenny Holston/Pool via REUTERS
The full breadth of President Donald Trump's entourage of American business leaders and dignitaries was unveiled during a welcoming ceremony in China early Thursday morning, which included an appearance of one individual who incensed a political analyst.
Ana Navarro, a CNN commentator, noted that Brett Ratner, who directed Melania Trump's eponymous documentary on Amazon, was among those selected by Trump to travel with his delegation. Ratner's travel to China on the U.S. taxpayers' dime incensed Navarro because of his sordid history in Hollywood and the harm he's caused to some women.
"There is also another person who is in this official delegation, and that was on Air Force One, and that's Brett Ratner, who was the director and producer of the 'Melania' movie," Navarro said on CNN's "NewsNight." "But let us remember, Brett Ratner had been basically banished from Hollywood in 2017 because there were very serious sexual predatory allegations against him."
"His name is all over the Epstein file because of his association with Epstein," she continued. And so, because he volunteered to do that documentary on Melania, that Amazon allegedly paid $40 million for, he is now being brought back and rehabilitated by Donald Trump."
"I find it appalling, appalling, and I urge people to go look up the women," she added. "Some of the biggest names in Hollywood who spoke up against the sexual harassment and sexual acts of Brett Ratner, which included things like masturbating in front of them. And there he is as part of the official U.S. delegation flying on Air Force One on our dime. I find that appalling."
President Xi Jinping shaking hands with U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth. The scene as U.S. President Donald Trump participates in events at the Great Hall of the People and does a greeting with the President of the People’s Republic of China Xi Jinping May 14, 2026, in Beijing China during a trip focused on trade, regional security, and strengthening bilateral ties between the world’s two largest economies. Kenny Holston/Pool via REUTERS
The full breadth of President Donald Trump's entourage of American business leaders and dignitaries was unveiled during a welcoming ceremony in China early Thursday morning, which included an appearance of one individual who incensed a political analyst.
Ana Navarro, a CNN commentator, noted that Brett Ratner, who directed Melania Trump's eponymous documentary on Amazon, was among those selected by Trump to travel with his delegation. Ratner's travel to China on the U.S. taxpayers' dime incensed Navarro because of his sordid history in Hollywood and the harm he's caused to some women.
"There is also another person who is in this official delegation, and that was on Air Force One, and that's Brett Ratner, who was the director and producer of the 'Melania' movie," Navarro said on CNN's "NewsNight." "But let us remember, Brett Ratner had been basically banished from Hollywood in 2017 because there were very serious sexual predatory allegations against him."
"His name is all over the Epstein file because of his association with Epstein," she continued. And so, because he volunteered to do that documentary on Melania, that Amazon allegedly paid $40 million for, he is now being brought back and rehabilitated by Donald Trump."
"I find it appalling, appalling, and I urge people to go look up the women," she added. "Some of the biggest names in Hollywood who spoke up against the sexual harassment and sexual acts of Brett Ratner, which included things like masturbating in front of them. And there he is as part of the official U.S. delegation flying on Air Force One on our dime. I find that appalling."
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