It seems as if every new graph out of the U.S. has some Americans convinced they are sliding into the "American Century of Humiliation," part of an ongoing meme cycle pitting the U.S. against China.

Certain online leftists began calling the current epoch the "Chinese Century" earlier this year, and even framed the new administration through the lens of JDPON Don, a gag casting him as a Maoist plant dismantling U.S. influence.

But as controversial tariffs, inflation and bleak jobs data stacked up, critics shifted their attention domestically. Now the joke lands on America itself, with memes casting the country as entering its own humiliating century, echoing one of China’s darkest historical narratives.

Here's a recap of the meme and how it spread online.

What Does 'Century of Humiliation' Mean, And Why Are People Taking It Onto America?

The "Century of Humiliation" (百年国耻) refers to a stretch of Chinese history from the Opium Wars in 1839 through 1949, when the country endured foreign invasions, forced treaties and repeated territorial losses.

Early 20th-century Chinese revolutionaries framed the phrase as a rallying cry, marking the period as a great shame to overcome through nationalism and state-building. The phrase has since carried heavy weight in Chinese discourse, resurfacing whenever global power balances shift.

That backdrop made it ripe for entering the meme cycle. In 2025, when the new administration's reciprocal tariffs and anti-immigration measures collided with spiraling inflation and a grim employment market, critics reached for the phrase and pinned it to America.

The earliest breakout meme came on April 2nd, 2025, when X / Twitter user @brianonhere posted a Google Translate screenshot that showed the phrase, "Hello, I am refugee from American century of humiliation. Where can I get an iced americano around these parts?" translated to Mandarin. The post racked up over 1 million views and 70,000 likes in seven months.

How Did Memes About 'The American Century of Humiliation' Spread?

On July 4th, 2025, the Instagram page @fashionruinedmylife posted another Google Translate gag, reading, "Hello I am feeling the American century of humiliation. Can you show me where to buy White Monster Energy Drinks?" It pulled over 44,000 likes in three months as the joke continued spreading into mid-2025.

Other posts leaned on GIFs. For instance, X user @GalaxyPeaBrain created a GIF series labeled "The American Century of Humiliation," with one viral entry appearing on September 22nd, 2025. It paired the Michael Jordan No No No reaction with a Financial Times headline about U.S. manufacturing and construction facing recession-like conditions. That post drew over 1 million views and 60,000 likes in a week.

The format quickly adapted to new headlines. On October 1st, 2025, X user @arguablysomaya reposted one of @GalaxyPeaBrain’s GIFs featuring the anime character Anya Forger from Spy x Family against an The End of Evangelion backdrop. It quoted a report downgrading August job growth in the U.S. from 54,000 to negative 3,000. The post gathered over 100,000 likes in two days.

What Are Some More 'American Century of Humiliation' Memes?

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For the full history of the American Century of Humiliation, be sure to check out Know Your Meme's encyclopedia entry for more information.