Backlash as Bill O’Reilly mocks Xi Jinping’s Asean visit

PETALING JAYA: Bill O’Reilly’s recent comments mocking Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit to Asean countries have sparked backlash from netizens.

His claim that “Malays aren’t gonna buy your stuff as they don’t have the money” drew criticism from Malaysians, who accused him of being uninformed.

O’Reilly, once best known for The O’Reilly Factor on Fox News, left the network after facing five lawsuits involving women who accused O’Reilly of sexual misconduct.

In a post on X, O’Reilly questioned Xi’s motivations for the tour, suggesting Asean nations couldn’t economically support China.

This isn’t the first instance of American criticism of China; Vice President JD Vance also faced backlash for his remarks about the US borrowing from Chinese peasants.

The comment faced the ire of netizens in China, who said the remark was ignorant and disrespectful.

Xi began his visit to Malaysia on Tuesday (April 15) at the invitation of His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia.

During his visit, 31 Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs), agreements, and notes between Malaysia and China were exchanged.

Xi’s visit was part of the Chinese President’s three-nation tour of Southeast Asia, which included Vietnam, Malaysia, and Cambodia.