Donald Trump told Fox News that Xi Jinping is 'central casting' for the role of a Chinese leader in a Hollywood film, calling him 'very tall' and adding that the Chinese 'tend to be a little bit shorter.'
The remarks came during a wide-ranging interview withFox News host Sean Hannity, broadcast on Thursday night as Trump wrapped up the first day of a two-day state visit to Beijing. The president had just concluded a bilateral meeting with Xi at the Great Hall of the People, covering topics includingTaiwan, the Iran war, andtrade.
Hannity asked Trump whether his personal relationship with the Chinese president had evolved, and Trump's answer took a notable detour into observations about Xi's physical stature.
Responding to Hannity's question about Xi's negotiating style, Trump described the Chinese leader as serious and direct before pivoting abruptly. 'I think he's a warm person, actually, but he's all business. There's no games. There's no talking about how nice the weather is,'Trump told Hannity. He then compared Xi to a figure a casting director could never manufacture.
'If you went to Hollywood and looked for a leader of China to play a role in a movie, he's central casting. You couldn't find a guy like him,' Trump said. Hannity interjected with the phrase himself before Trump confirmed it. The exchange was candid and unscripted, with Trump adding: 'Even his physical features, you know. He's tall, very tall. And especially for this country, because they tend to be a little bit shorter.'
Trump goes on extended monologue praising Xi Jinping’s body:"If you went to Hollywood and you looked for a leader of China to play a role in a movie, he's central casting. You couldn't find a guy like him. Even his physical features. He's very tall, especially for this country.…pic.twitter.com/8R3RlWevpF
The phrase 'central casting' originates from Central Casting Corporation, a Hollywood agency established in 1925 that historically supplied background extras to film studios. In contemporary usage, it describes someone who so perfectly embodies a role that they appear tailor-made for it. Trump anticipated he would face criticism for the praise. 'I'll get criticised, they always criticise me when I say good things about certain leaders,' he said.
Xi Jinping isreported to stand approximately 178cm (5ft 10in), a detail that attracted commentary given that Trump has long claimed a height of 6ft 3in. Photographs taken during the summit showed the two leaders appearing roughly level in stature.
Thursday night's remarks were not the first time Trump reached for Hollywood metaphors to describe Xi. The pattern stretches back years and has recurred across markedly different political contexts.
In November 2023, at a Mar-a-Lago gala, Trump described Xi in strikingly similar terms. 'He's like a piece of steel, strong, smart. There's nobody in Hollywood who could play the role,'Trump said, according to footage obtained by Heartland Signal. The comments came one day before then-President Joe Biden was due to meet Xi in California.
Source: International Business Times UK
