In　the　COVID-19　crisis,　the　spectrum　of　emotional　responses　among　citizens,　encompassing　both　positive　and　negative　reactions,　holds　the　potential　to　significantly　sway　public　trust　in　the　government.　However,　the　impact　of　government　performance　on　the　interplay　between　citizen＇　emotional　reactions　and　trust　in　the　government　is　not　well　understood.　Drawing　upon　the　trust　repair　framework,　we　analyze　data　from　China　gathered　during　the　pandemic　to　investigate　the　moderating　and　reparative　functions　of　government　performance.　The　results　showed　that:　Government　trust　increases　as　positive　emotions　increase　and　negative　emotions　diminish.　Government　performance　positively　moderates　the　relationship　between　the　emotional　reactions　of　citizens　and　government　trust.　Citizens’　trust　in　the　government　during　the　pandemic　showed　a　“strong　central,　weak　local”　pattern.　Additionally,　local　government　performance　exhibits　a　more　pronounced　restorative　effect　compared　to　the　central　government.　Policy　implications　are　proposed　to　assist　policymakers　in　enhancing　public　trust　in　the　government.　©　2024　Elsevier　Ltd