KUALA LUMPUR – US conservative commentator Bill O’Reilly has faced backlash from Malaysians for his remarks after mocking Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visits to Malaysia, Vietnam, and Cambodia, asserting that these countries do not have the financial capacity to buy Chinese goods.
In a viral video from his “No Spin News” channel, O’Reilly questioned the purpose of Xi’s trip, repeating his statement that Malaysia and the other aforementioned Southeast Asian countries “do not have any money”.
“Hey President Xi, let me just break it to you. Those folks have no money at all.
“They’re not going to buy your stuff. I don’t know why you’re going there.
“The Malays (Malaysians) aren’t gonna buy your stuff, they don’t have any money,” O’Reilley said on his show.
His comments drew criticism from Malaysian social media users, who pointed out his lack of knowledge about the country, as seen in reactions to his YouTube post.
Among those condemning O’Reilly’s remarks was DAP leader Tan Sri Lim Kit Siang, who said that the commentator fails to grasp the significance of Xi’s visit to Malaysia, Vietnam, and Cambodia.
“Firstly, the Vietnamese and the Cambodians are not Malays,” Lim stated in a statement.
“Secondly, it is not these three countries that are determining how to respond to the Trump tariffs, but the 10 Asean countries that are collectively deciding how to address this issue, representing a diverse array of civilisations including Islam, Buddhism, Confucianism, Hinduism, Taoism, Sikhism, Communism, and more.”
Lim also criticised US President Donald Trump for initiating a global tariff conflict, asserting that the president is mistaken in expecting worldwide support for his trade war with China.
O’Reilly, who gained fame as the host of The O’Reilly Factor on Fox News, left the network in 2017 following multiple suits related to sexual harassment allegations. Despite his controversial past, he has since become a contributor for NewsNation.
Xi began his visit to Malaysia on Tuesday (April 15) at the invitation of His Majesty Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Ibrahim.
During his visit, 31 memoranda of understanding (MOUs), agreements, and notes were signed between Malaysia and China.
Since Trump announced extensive reciprocal tariffs affecting many countries, Malaysia, which currently chairs Asean, has emphasised the need for a unified regional response to the tariff issue.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra recently reiterated their commitment to tackling the tariff challenge collaboratively at the Asean level.
Anwar, who is on a two-day working visit to Thailand, mentioned that both delegations discussed this matter during their bilateral talks, as reported by Bernama.
Recently, the Trump administration has enacted a 90-day pause on implementing reciprocal tariffs, allowing affected countries to negotiate with the administration in hopes of lowering tariff rates. – April 18, 2025