In the final hours of President Trump’s term in office, China’s official news agency declared good riddance on Twitter.

At roughly the same time, a Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman derided the departing U.S. Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo, as a source of entertainment for China.

The parting shots from Beijing on Wednesday punctuated a tumultuous turn in bilateral relations under President Trump, who over the past four years lurched between friendly overtures toward Chinese leader Xi Jinping to aggressive rhetoric and punitive measures designed to punish China for trade imbalances, alleged technology theft and alleged culpability for the Covid-19 pandemic.

Even at the height of tensions, Chinese officials and major state-media outlets have typically avoided direct attacks on Mr. Trump.