Donald Trump as Buddha figures by Chinese sculptor see renewed interest. Elon Musk next up

Donald Trump is not typically known for his calm or reserve, but in a craftsman’s workshop in rural China the US president-elect sits in divine contemplation.

Cross-legged with his eyes half-closed, in a pose evoking the Buddha, this porcelain version of America’s divisive leader-in-waiting is the work of designer and sculptor Hong Jinshi.

The Zen-like figures – which Hong sells for between 999 yuan and 20,000 yuan (US$135 and US$2,700) depending on their size – first went viral in 2021 on the e-commerce platform Taobao, attracting national headlines. Taobao is operated by Alibaba, owner of the South China Morning Post.

And ahead of Trump’s second term, they have become hot property again.

“In the days after he won the election, there was a lot of interest,” said Hong, who originally designed the statues as a joke.