The sound comes from Donald Trump's public speeches and rallies, where China was a frequent talking point and his distinctive pronunciation quickly caught listeners' attention. Clipped to just the single word, it began circulating on social media, video edits and soundboards as a shorthand joke for anything related to China, trade or American politics. Its appeal has lasted because the delivery is so recognisable that a single word can set up a whole gag, and because it still fits new news clips, reaction videos and political memes years after it first spread online.