Chongqing - Recent online rumors about a Chinese short drama featuring Donald Trump and a White House janitor have been debunked. Yet the rapid rise of Chinese short drama scripts in the U.S. is real, with these platforms and stories making a notable impact on American audiences, the entertainment industry, and Hollywood jobs.
Screenshot of an AI-generated image circulating online. (Photo/The Paper)
Over the past week, some Chinese social media accounts have circulated claims that the short drama “Trump Falls in Love with Me, a White House Janitor” has become a sensation in the United States, raking in $150 million within three months. These claims were often “supported” by AI-generated images and vague references on platforms like TikTok. Another rumored “sister series,” “After Divorcing Trump, I Got Half of America,” was also widely shared.
Fact-checking by multiple mainstream overseas platforms and international media outlets has confirmed that neither drama exists. No legitimate streaming or video platform lists them; the so-called “viral” content amounts to little more than AI-generated images and fictional headlines.
While the viral Trump dramas are fake, Chinese short drama scripts and platforms are seeing real success in the U.S. The country is now the top overseas market for Chinese short drama apps, with leading platforms earning $151 million—nearly 65% of global revenue. By March 2025, over 237 Chinese short drama apps had launched abroad, with a total of 270 million downloads.
Market intelligence firm Sensor Tower reports that in 2024, Chinese short drama apps earned $1.2 billion overseas, 60% of which came from the U.S. ReelShort, a Silicon Valley-based app, now leads the sector, outpacing over 40 competitors in downloads and revenue.
In early 2025, U.S. users made up 49% of global in-app spending on short drama apps, making the U.S. the main market. Latin America, Southeast Asia, and India are also seeing rapid user growth.
The boom has also created jobs for Hollywood actors hit by the 2023 strikes, with many finding new opportunities as Chinese short drama producers set up in Los Angeles. Some actors saw their daily pay jump from $200 to $1,500, earning more monthly than a year of regular work.
Though some scripts are melodramatic, IMDb ratings often exceed eight points, well above most mainstream shows. Short dramas costing $170,000 to make can bring in up to $2 million in revenue.
The Chinese short drama boom is driven by rapid industry expansion. In 2022, Crazy Maple Studio launched ReelShort, leading to a wave of similar overseas platforms like Sereal+, ShortTV, DramaBox, and FlexTV. By 2024, Crazy Maple Studio was recognized as one of TIME’s “100 Most Influential Companies.”
This growth is fueled by localization, cultural adaptation, and new business models. Chinese companies now export not just products but also management practices and cultural influence. Experts predict the global micro-short drama market could hit $36 billion in the coming years.
A 2024 industry report notes that Chinese drama studios, former online literature companies, and app developers dominate the overseas market with strong content libraries, IP rights, and global distribution experience. U.S. firms, meanwhile, rely on their local market insights for niche advantages.
According to Huang Zhuo, Associate Dean at Peking University’s National School of Development, “While China once imported Silicon Valley’s models, now Chinese innovations like Xiaohongshu (RED) and short dramas are spreading overseas. Pop Mart and Luckin Coffee are further examples of this trend.”
AI-generated image. (Photo credit Internet)
While Trump-themed drama rumors are entertaining, the real story is the rise of Chinese short dramas and their impact on American viewing habits and Hollywood jobs. As Chinese creativity and business models go global, short dramas are set to become a major force in the world’s content industry.
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