Donald Trump has lavished praise on Chinese President Xi Jinping, describing him as 'straight out of central casting' for a leader of China and 'very tall – especially for this country.'
Trump's Comments on Xi's Appearance
In an interview with Fox News' Sean Hannity aired Thursday night, Trump said: 'If you went to Hollywood and you look for a leader of China, to play a role in a movie, he's central casting… you couldn't find a guy like him.' He added, '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… but no, if you went to Hollywood, you wouldn't find that, you're not going to find a guy to play the role who's good.'
Origin of 'Central Casting'
The phrase 'straight out of Central Casting' originates from a Hollywood agency established in 1925 that supplied background extras for TV shows and movies. It is typically used to mean someone who looks the part. Trump has previously used the phrase for Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh and Kevin Warsh, his nominee to lead the Federal Reserve.
Previous Uses of the Phrase
In a Truth Social post announcing Warsh as his nominee, Trump wrote: 'On top of everything else, he is 'central casting,' and he will never let you down.' Warsh later referenced the remark in his confirmation hearing, joking that central casting would have sent someone older and grayer, drawing laughter but a stony-faced look from Senator Elizabeth Warren.
Trump's Broader Praise for Xi
In the interview, Trump continued to praise Xi but suggested it might get him in trouble. He said: '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… No, he's all business, and I like that.' Trump added: 'They always criticize me when I say good things about certain leaders, and this one, but he's a leader for China. He's led almost 1.5 billion people for a long time, and he's respected.'
