Following President Joe Biden’s dismal debate performance, Gavin Newsom has emerged among several names floated as his replacement, which will be a popular outcome in China.
Since Biden’s defeat to Donald Trump last week, Chinese social media users have been posting photos and videos of the California governor, who gained popularity during a visit to the world’s second-largest economy last year.
A video in which Newsom reaffirmed his support for Biden as the Democratic candidate has been viewed 80,000 times on China’s Weibo platform, with users commenting at the bottom that Newsom has “presidential temperament” and a “perfect resume” for the top office.
Zheng Jun, a blogger with about 3 million followers on the site, wrote that the governor was “ready to act most aggressively when the opportunity arises.”
For now, it’s unclear whether that moment will come anytime soon. Biden has vowed to remain the Democratic nominee on the November ballot, despite growing calls within his party for his replacement.
President Xi Jinping met with Newsom in Beijing in October, marking his first meeting with a U.S. governor in six years. During the week-long visit, Newsom praised China’s success as a boon to the world and urged progress between the two countries on climate change.
“Newsom represents a new, forward-thinking, more level-headed politician in the US,” said Henry Wang, founder of the Beijing-based think tank Center on China and Globalization. “He could be a calm voice in the US’s anti-China consensus.”
Wang added that California’s large economy and large Chinese-American population mean Newsom understands the benefits of business ties with China better than other US politicians.
Newsom’s visit to China comes at a time of tension in bilateral relations, with the two countries at odds over China’s claims to Taiwan and Biden’s efforts to limit China’s access to cutting-edge semiconductors. Newsom managed to find common ground by focusing on areas of cooperation.
During his visit to Hong Kong, the Americans stuck to climate change and national efforts, despite calls from U.S. senators to condemn Beijing’s crackdown on human rights in the city. Local officials appreciated that U.S. politicians came with a positive message, according to a person familiar with the matter who did not want to speak publicly.
In the southern Chinese city of Shenzhen, Newsom was photographed giving a thumbs up inside a BYD car, an industry that has become a major source of tension in relations between the two countries. Biden announced 100% tariffs on Chinese-made electric vehicles in May, and U.S. officials have accused China of flooding the world with a proliferation of cheap exports.
Chinese media praised Newsom’s visit, with the Communist Party’s mouthpiece, the Global Times, citing experts, calling it a “great success,” while other state media said the prominent Democrat had set a “model” for promoting U.S.-China ties with a high-profile visit abroad.
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This contrasts with criticism of Biden administration officials who have made a flurry of visits to Beijing over the past year in an attempt to stabilize relations. The Global Times noted that Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s visit to China in June 2023 was “inadequate” and that he was not given the red carpet upon his arrival in Beijing.
Newsom, 56, also drew attention in China for his energy, attending a basketball game with a group of elementary school children in Beijing, at a time when Biden, 81, has come under intense scrutiny over his health.
Still, after the debate, some Chinese people expressed concern online that Newsom also has political weaknesses. Some saw his being from the West Coast as a potential problem, since California has never produced a Democratic president. Others said he would be better off running in 2028 rather than being a “sacrifice” this year.
Overall, the idea of a candidate who didn’t threaten huge trade tariffs against China and took a more positive stance toward Beijing was appealing to many in the Asian country.
“I made a point of saying I’m here with open arms, not clenched fists,” Newsom said last year. “I know the strategic red lines in our relationship, but I also know both countries have the capacity to manage them.”
