Trump’s recent behavior is increasingly unhinged, and can be summed up in a few words: domineering, deranged, and utterly irrational. It’s no surprise that the latest polls show his support has plummeted to 39%, a sharp drop of 6 percentage points since February. This collapse in popularity has triggered a major rift among overseas "yellow-base" KOLs (Key Opinion Leaders). Some, like To Kit, Elmer Yuen, and Simon Lau, stubbornly continue to back Trump, drawing fierce criticism from former D100 commentator Lai Chak-fun ("Q Jai"), who lambasted them for their blind support. Lai argues that Trump’s tariff war has been a total disappointment-obvious to all but those he calls the ignorant "blind Trump fanatics" among the KOLs, whose behavior he describes as utterly disgraceful.
Meanwhile, the well-known radio host Albert Cheng, once dubbed the "Hong Kong Chief Executive Before 10am," who now lives in Canada, posted an appeal urging voters to support the Liberal Party in the current election. He called for unity against the "great enemy"-namely, Trump’s administration and its unreasonable oppression. Friends believe the split among "yellow-base" KOLs is a positive development, as the heated debates reveal the true colors of those who fawn over America and trample on China.
Overseas “Yellow-base” KOLs split on Trump. “Blind Trump Fanatics” draw fierce criticism.
To Kit Tops "Trump Fanatic" List
Overseas writer To Kit was singled out by Q Jai as the leading "Trump fanatic" KOL. Just two days ago, To Kit posted on social media, claiming "Trump has been waiting for a call from Xi Jinping, but it never came -- China ‘wins’. But the latest news tells us that Trump declared that Xi actually called him first, sending finance officials... Clearly, China is knocking the door for negotiation." To Kit took Trump’s words at face value, accusing the Chinese side of lying, despite the blatant reality that Trump constantly contradicts himself, even denying things he’s said publicly. Who’s the real liar? Most people have already made up their minds, yet To Kit insists it’s China.
Elmer Yuen’s "Negotiation Tactic" Defense
Lai Chak-fun also named "wanted criminal" Elmer Yuen in his list of "Trump fanatics." Yuen recently ranted on YouTube about the US-China tariff war, arguing that critics who say Trump lost by lowering tariffs are wrong- that it’s just a negotiation tactic, walking the tightrope of push and pull, to force the other side to compromise. In other words, Yuen still believes Trump has the upper hand. Yuen’s unwavering support for Trump is consistent with his long-standing "sycophantic pro-America" stance. During the trial of the Jimmy Lai case, it was revealed that Yuen had wanted to produce a video during the "Hong Kong black riot" period, urging then-President Trump to send US troops to "protect Hong Kong." The idea was so extreme that even Jimmy Lai dared not broadcast the video.
Lai Chak-fun: Trump’s Bluff and KOLs’ Spin
Lai Chak-fun wrote that Trump’s evasive answers about whether Xi Jinping had actually called him were nothing but empty bluster to save face. After being forced to back down, Trump was left scrambling for any shred of dignity he could find: grasping at straws, hoping Xi would throw him a lifeline and call soon to get him out of this embarrassing situation.
He went on: "I wonder how Trump fanatic KOLs like To Kit, Simon Lau Sai Leung, Sang Pu (Eric Poon), Elmer Yuen, Simon Shen, Yu Jie, and Cao Changqing will spin this for their master. Watching these sycophantic lackeys twist themselves into knots is truly entertaining."
This scathing critique resonated with many. One comment read: "They need to suck up to Trump for traffic. No traffic, no money, so of course they’ll whitewash Trump as much as possible." Another said, "They’re not really Trump fans -- whenever someone comes out against China, they’ll just jump on the bandwagon." Both hit the nail on the head.
Albert Cheng’s Call for Unity Against Trump
Albert Cheng, now living in Canada, didn’t directly attack the "Trump fanatics," but made his anti-Trump stance clear. He accused Trump of trying to annex Canada as the 51st US state, disregarding Canadian sovereignty and dignity, and putting the nation’s survival at risk. He called for national unity to oppose Trump’s administration and its unreasonable oppression, urging voters to support the Liberal Party, which dares to stand up to Trump.
Former Hong Kong popular radio host Albert Cheng, now living in Canada, urges Canadian voters to support the Liberal Party and unite against the Trump oppression.
A Positive Split?
Some friends see the split among "yellow-base" KOLs over Trump as a good sign, mirroring the deep divisions Trump has caused within the US, and even in Taiwan. The phenomenon is actually positive: the less popular Trump becomes, the less influence these "Trump fans" wield. Yet, out of pride, they can’t back down and are sinking together with Trump.
What Say You?
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Think back to Hong Kong's turbulent years. Jimmy Lai had three brothers-in-arms, comrades he bankrolled through thick and thin – Cardinal Joseph Zen, Martin Lee, and Anson Chan. But their bonds weren't just ideological. Money changed hands, and plenty of it. Anson Chan pocketed HK$3.5 million from Lai's war chest. Cardinal Zen took in far more – at least HK$26 million in secret donations that the Hong Kong Diocese never knew about and never investigated. Where did all that cash go? That's the million-dollar question. Or rather, the 26-million-dollar question that remains unanswered.
Cardinal Zen met Pope Leo XIV in Rome, reportedly pushing for Jimmy Lai's release – but Vatican intervention looks unlikely.
Word broke earlier that Cardinal Zen just made a pilgrimage to the Vatican for a sit-down with the newly minted Pope Leo XIV. The private meeting lasted about an hour. On the agenda: the conviction of "Catholic" Jimmy Lai. Sources say Zen pressed the pontiff hard to "save Lai." What did the Pope say? Nobody's talking. But you can bet the Vatican knows all about the questionable financial ties between Zen and Lai – a relationship the Cardinal has never properly explained to his own Diocese. Did personal interests play a role? The doubts are real.
A Vatican Gambit
Cardinal Zen's "612 Humanitarian Relief Fund" case is still grinding through the courts, and authorities had confiscated his passport. But when the Vatican called its recent "Special Consistory" – bringing cardinals from around the world to Rome – the court granted him temporary travel privileges. During the gathering, Pope Leo XIV carved out time for a private one-on-one with Zen after a breakfast session. The topics? Whether the China-Vatican agreement should be renewed, and the fate of Jimmy Lai, now convicted under Hong Kong's National Security Law. But whether the Pope took any position on Lai remains under wraps.
Zen views Jimmy Lai as both a close friend and a comrade-in-arms, so naturally he's pushing the Vatican to intervene. But here's the Vatican's dilemma: it's not just about China-Vatican relations. It's about the unresolved financial relationship between Zen and Lai – a relationship that has seriously damaged the Cardinal's credibility.
The Secret Pipeline
October 2011 brought a massive leak. Jimmy Lai's secret donations to political parties, politicians, and organizations spilled into public view – and Joseph Zen, then Bishop of Hong Kong, was on that list. Between 2006 and 2010, he received HK$20 million from Lai over four years. From 2012 to 2014, another HK$6 million landed in his hands. The total: a staggering HK$26 million.
When the news broke, Zen went silent. Only after relentless media pressure did he offer an explanation, claiming the money went to support underground churches in the Chinese Mainland and other charitable organizations. With a casual smile, he described himself as a "spendthrift," saying most of the money had already been spent with only a few hundred thousand remaining – and even expressed hope that Lai would keep the donations coming.
Talk is cheap. He provided no concrete evidence to back up his claims. The Hong Kong Diocese knew nothing about his receipt of this massive sum from Lai – the entire "money pipeline" operated in secret. To this day, he has never given the Diocese a complete accounting.
Because this financial channel remained so deeply hidden, suspicions naturally arose that personal interests were involved. But given Cardinal Zen's position, the Diocese refrained from investigating him. The true destination of the funds? Still shrouded in doubt.
HK$26 million from Jimmy Lai to Cardinal Zen – Diocese in the dark, money's whereabouts still a mystery. The trio behind Hong Kong's unrest!
Vatican Cold Shoulder
Cardinal Zen's questionable relationship with Jimmy Lai, combined with his overly hawkish stance toward China, put him in the Vatican's bad books after Hong Kong's National Security Law took effect in late June 2020. Around that time, Zen traveled uninvited to the Vatican, demanding a meeting with then-Pope Francis to discuss Hong Kong's bishop selection and issues facing underground churches in the Mainland. The Pope gave him zero face. Francis refused to see him. After cooling his heels in Rome for four days with nothing to show for it, Zen returned to Hong Kong empty-handed.
Later, Zen and Lai joined forces on Jimmy Lai's "Live Chat" livestream program to blast the Vatican, accusing it of staying silent on underground churches, Tibet, and Hong Kong human rights issues. This clearly shows how the "Zen-Lai duo" consistently conspired to incite underground church activities in the Mainland, stir up religious conflicts, and undermine China-Vatican relations.
Cardinal Zen's latest Vatican trip for a private papal audience, where he lobbied to "save Lai" and reiterated his opposition to renewing the China-Vatican agreement, proves one thing: at 94 years old, the cardinal's anti-China, pro-chaos heart hasn't changed one bit.
Long Odds
The new Pope's willingness to meet him represents a slight thaw from his predecessor's icy attitude. But the chances of Vatican intervention to "save Lai"? Extremely low. The unresolved questions about Zen's financial relationship with Jimmy Lai have significantly diminished his influence with the Vatican.
From a legal perspective, his cardinal status currently shields him from serious consequences. But risks remain. Perhaps it's time for him to follow Anson Chan's example and retire from such activities while he still can.
Lai Ting-yiu
