Trump-era racist rhetoric makes Chinese students in the U.S. less supportive of democracy

When President Trump uses the phrase “kung flu” to refer to the novel coronavirus, his campaign rally crowds roar with approval. But this xenophobic talk doesn’t just appeal to Trump’s base — it may also be a boon to Chinese President Xi Jinping.

In a new paper, we show that racist, anti-Chinese taunts boost support for the Chinese regime from an unexpected group: a new generation of Chinese students in the United States, a cohort many would think likely to embrace democratic values.

Senior figures in the Trump administration like deputy national security adviser Matt Pottinger have encouraged the Chinese people to bring democracy to China. But anti-Chinese rhetoric spouted by the president and repeated by his supporters makes this goal far less likely. Continue reading.