China Daily Calls Trump’s Twitter Attack a “Scapegoat Scam”
What Went Down
On Wednesday, President Donald Trump fired off a tweet alleging that China hacked the email server of 2016 Democratic hopeful Hillary Clinton. The tweet was chillingly vague—no evidence, no details, just a blanket accusation. It only took a few hours before China Daily had to swoop in with a blistering editorial.
China Daily’s Take
- Cast‑away Comment: The China Daily deemed the claim “an attempt to cast China as a scapegoat.”
- Trump‑Focused Critique: “There are few things more unsettling than a tweet from the U.S. president that initially feels realistic but quickly devolves into a message from some alternate universe.”
- Denied by Beijing: The foreign ministry sent a strong denial—trump’s tweet had no merit.
Why China’s Back‑Stitch Follows a Tidal Wave
With the trade war heating up, China’s state media have grown bolder, calling out the U.S. president with sharper language. This marks a sharp departure from gentler criticisms. Now they’re pointing the finger at Trump and accusing him of smearing China to divert attention from the White House’s own troubles before the mid‑term elections.
The Stakes for Trump
- November elections are looming, and the GOP is battling to stay loud on both houses of Congress.
- Trump’s attempt to replace alarm with “wispy” cyber‑theories could backfire if voters see he’s looking for a scapegoat.
Can Trump Find the Scapegoat He Needs?
With China doubling down on its trading spat, expect political jabs to keep flying. Trump’s mission? To paint China as the villain while nipping under his own campaign’s faltering campaign. The editorial warns: “He desperately needs a scapegoat in the run‑up to the mid‑term elections so he can divert public attention from the troubles the White House has become mired in.”
Only time, and a few cheeky meme‑perks, will reveal if this strategy bootstraps the GOP or just lands Trump in a new crisis.
