Donald Trump became the target of jokes after internet users claimed that Chinese President Xi Jinping may have used “psychological tricks” during an official meeting in Beijing to make him appear smaller than him on camera.
The debate emerged after videos showed Trump sitting in a chair that appeared to be lower than the one used by Xi. According to the website Indy100, social media users began claiming that the difference between the chairs may have been intentional, describing the situation as a “diplomatic humiliation” carefully planned by China.
Experts in protocol and political communication often point out that details such as chair height, photo positioning, order of entry and camera framing can be part of so-called “visual diplomacy,” used to convey power and authority during international meetings.
The meeting between Trump and Xi took place during the U.S. president’s official visit to China from May 13 to 15. The talks covered topics such as the war in Iran, trade tariffs, artificial intelligence and Taiwan, but ended without major concrete breakthroughs.
😂 Xi Jinping sat on a tall chair while Trump was given a shorter chair with a soft cushion so he sinks & appears smaller than Xi
China humiliated Trump in front of the world. Just look at his scowl! pic.twitter.com/dOW7JwFox4
— Morgan J. Freeman (@mjfree) May 17, 2026
Photo and video: Public domain / X @mjfree. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
