If you’re traveling, or living overseas, or you know people from other countries, or you know people who are in contact with folks from other counties, I am interested in anecdata about how people feel about Trump and the U.S. Do they distinguish between Trump and his supporters and the rest of use who are held captive by this crazy con man would-be-king and his evil, authoritarian friends?
I was just talking with a friend of mine whose husband is in the military, stationed in Africa. It turns out that people in Africa are unhappy about what’s going on with USAID. I mean, really, who could have known? (Besides any human capable of rational thought.)
Anyway, some of those unhappy people are taking pot shots at the US military on the bases in Africa. I mean, I know that’s wrong and scary, but seriously, can you blame them?
Anyway, I know what’s in the news, just wondering what anyone else is hearing through their grapevine.
February Protest in Wenatchee, WA
japa21
We will be cruising round the Caribbean in two weeks. Trying to figure out if I can pull off being a Canadian.
WaterGirl
@japa21: That’s a classic for people traveling in Europe. Not so sure Canadians would appreciate that these days – given that our country is shitting on their country, I don’t think I would try that right now.
japa21
@WaterGirl: I figure a Canadian would be complimented that I think being Canadian is better than being from the US.
New Deal democrat
@japa21: I intend to wear a Harris/Walz campaign button conspicuously when I travel internationally.
Oh btw, sibling unit sent me a link to an article: reservations in the Adirondacks (Stefanik’s district) have dropped 40%. Gee I wonder why?
zhena gogolia
Deleted.
I think I shouldn’t post about it.
Big R
My wife is West Indian, and she keeps remarking that Trump is behaving like every Boomer tourist she’s ever dealt with, and that the American reputation worldwide among regular people is pretty uniformly negative because of the people behaving like Trump.
She’s even down on the Carter Center because she used to be an election worker and they slagged her work with no evidence.
David Collier-Brown
I’m a Canadian, and to me all non-MAGAts are welcome aboard.
If you aren’t but would like to be Canadian, then consider introducing yourself with “I’ve applied to become a Canadian citizen”. And then apply.
Baud
@New Deal democrat:
There will be a special election for her seat later this year. We’ll see if voters care.
David Collier-Brown
As to what you look like from outside:
– I don’t learn anything about you from US newspapers
– The leading Canadian newspapers are now covering you. The Globe and Mail have covered US protests.
– Ditto for the UK, with The Guardian covering protests.
I distinguish between Mr Trump and regular Americans, but I have to go out of my way (here, for example) to hear anything factual about the differences.
Baud
@japa21:
I just tell people I’m a jackal.
TONYG
My wife is from Japan and she often talks to her sisters there. However, the current debacle is never an issue because all of the family members in both countries argree that Trump/Musk/Vance are assholes.
RepubAnon
People I’ve run into while overseas treat it like an obvious cancer: they don’t bring it up unless I do. Oh, and they studiously avoid asking where I’m from, as though it’s not something suitable for public disclosure.
Pete Downunder
Here Downunder people hear my accent (I grew up in NYC) and still ask if I’m Canadian. The reason is that Americans don’t mind being mistaken for Canadians but the reverse is very much not true. Also the folks here think that the US has completely lost its collective mind. They are not wrong.
Baud
@Pete Downunder:
I saw some reddit posts by Australians worried about their own election.
I just hope the situation doesn’t cause friction within the NCIS Sydney team.
TheOtherHank
@David Collier-Brown: I’m trying to figure out if I am Canadian. My American grandparents lived in Manitoba briefly in the late 1930s. My dad was born while they were there. The moved back to the US when he was still some soft of baby (I’m not sure how old he was when they moved back). He never held a Canadian passport. I was born in Minnesota, but maybe I’m a Canadian born out of the country.
I’ve sent away for a copy of his birth certificate, so I have some documentation. And I’ll take it from there.
Jane2
As a Canadian, I’m elbows up all the way against the US federal administration and its enablers. My American friends are my friends, period, and they’re as appalled as I am.
As for Americans in general, I hope the leopards don’t eat all your faces before it’s too late.
Asparagus Aspersions
I just posted about this a few days ago, so apologies for the repetition. I’m in France, married to a Canadian. I’ve lived here for more than 15 years, and have worked in international programs basically my whole time here, in various non-profit and international organizations.
I was here during the Bush years. French people hated Bush, but drew a distinction between me as an American and the America of Bush. I didn’t support Bush, and they understood that huge swaths of the country didn’t vote for him. Same during the first Trump administration, and in that case, since he lost the popular vote, it was much easier for people to understand that he didn’t have a broad base of support.
Also, during T’s first term, the French media did a terrible job of conveying how abnormal he was, so most people didn’t understand that the US was a shitshow from 2017 to 2020 (I mean, a shitshow compared to the Obama years, not compared to our current shit tsunami).
Things are very different now. The front page of today’s Parisien (the main newspaper for Paris and environs) has an entire front page that says “Confronted with Putin and Trump: Europe’s Awakening.”
Substory headlines:
“Jean-Nouel Barrot, Foreign Affairs Minister We will not let ourselves be intimidated.”
“From London to Warsaw, the shock of a continent”
“French people and the call to support the homeland: Those who we talked to are scared by the agreements between Putin and Trump. Some fear the expansion of the war and are readying to contribute financially to our defense.”
In short: people are really worried. This is not the anti-Americanism of the Bush years. Nor is it the eye-rolling and condesenscion of the first Trump term. This is bewilderment and anger as the world order shifts in the blink of an eye. No one blames me. People ask me constantly what is wrong with our country. It will take generations for people to trust us again. If they ever do.
I want to add that I am heartbroken, every day. I don’t feel guilty or responsible for what’s happened. I’m just – devastated (also scared etc but that goes without saying). Maybe it’s the way I would feel if my brother and best friend were married, and then he cheated on her in the worst way possible. I don’t know. I’m typing my thoughts out loud now. Some time I will sort this all out in my head before commenting, and then say something really cogent and insightful.
Pete Downunder
@Baud: we have an election coming up in May. The very much misnamed Liberal Party (think GOP but not quite MAGA) is running a former cop who is much smarter than Trump but every bit as evil. The Labor party (sort of like Democrats but more organized but less liberal) are running a nice guy who is completely spineless and totally beholden to corporate interests. We are hoping for a hung parliament where the minority Green Party will hold a balance of power.
pat
We will be spending some time in Austria in the next few weeks. All our friends are as horrified as we are. I will purchase a blue and yellow scarf and wear it every time I go downtown. (I was going to order one a few days ago, online, but it would not be delivered before we leave. Hope I can find one, maybe in the airport..???)
Chief Oshkosh
From a US family who moved to France a couple of years ago:
Bonjour Croissant Crew,
We are getting many, many emails asking that question in the subject line.
Enough that I felt I wanted to speak to it in this week’s letter. It’s always a little dangerous writing about current events, especially when it feels like things change day to day. But I wanted to give you an idea of how things feel here on the groud at this moment.
First, as far as the French people, we’re actually getting a lot of empathy here on the ground. The French people are able to separate the actions of a government from the people of that government and I really appreciate that.
They are incredibly curious to understand what’s happening. We’re getting lots of very open questions. Most people here are incredulous. They can’t believe what’s happening in the US and international relations as much as many Americans.
It feels as if the entire world order is changing and everyone is trying to figure out why, where they fit, anticipate what might happen next, and what to do.
There have been some targeted Anti-American protests, but these are quite specific. For example, this past Monday, in Toulouse, a dozen Teslas at a dealership were burned or damaged. But we’re in Toulouse this weekend, out and about in the city and watching the Six Nations Rugby tournament in a local French bar. I don’t feel at all different than normal as the only Americans present.
The French are masters of the protest. Here is a picture from last year during the farmer protests when the local Credit Agricole banks (supposed to be a co-operative bank that specifically serves the rural areas) chose to keep farmers’ loan rates as high as legally possible, while other banks did not. The farmers showed their displeasure by dumping hay in front of bank branches across the countryside.
The really unlucky locations got manure sprayed in the parking lots too.😬
But bank employees were not harassed. There was no threat of violence.
There is a real difference here drawn between corporations, organizations, government, and real people on the ground just doing their jobs.
So I would not be surprised if there are additional reports of protests or demonstrations decrying America’s actions with regard to European allies, Ukraine, or other antagonistic, aggressive or unethical actions. But these don’t make me nervous. They make me proud.
I’m happy and relieved to live in a country where there are enough civil protections and people feel they can take to the streets to prove a point when needed.
We can’t say what the future will hold.
But I can say that I still feel welcome here as an American, and for that I’m very grateful.
Baguettes and Butter 4eva
Raina, Jason, and Juliana ❤️
Doug R
This picture posted on L,G&M says it all-graffiti on Calgary’s Centre Street bridge:
https://www.lawyersgunsmoneyblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Screenshot-2025-03-05-at-6.47.14%E2%80%AFPM.png
“There is no enemy like a friend betrayed”
WaterGirl
@Asparagus Aspersions: No apologies! I appreciated your entire comment. thank you.
JaySinWA
@Baud:
Declaring yourself an assassin is a bold move./s
WaterGirl
@Chief Oshkosh: Thank you for your comment, too!
ArchTeryx
I have a dear Qubecquois friend that thinks we, as a country, lost our fucking minds. And when a freaking QUEBEQUOIS tells you that…
They’re the crazy uncle in the attic for most of Canada. We outdid them without hardly trying.
Gloria DryGarden
@RepubAnon: which countries, which nationals?
How very nuanced.
It IS distasteful.
WaterGirl
@Doug R: Thanks for that. So sad, and true.
I added the photo to the post.
Gloria DryGarden
Speaking of great protests, did y’all see the French women’s day protest against fascism? Fantastic body paint. Wish I understood more of the French they’re chanting.
WaterGirl
Appreciating all these reports, even as tears run down my cheeks as I read them.
How far the mighty have fallen. Our systems got too complacent. A Republic, if we can keep it, indeed.
Thor Heyerdahl
I met some terrific American friends in the last few weeks who are as concerned for the US.
Canadian friends and family absolutely disgusted with the orange airhorn. Personally, I have taken the time to read labels and explicitly avoid US products and am in the process of removing a lot of US based tech from my life.
brendancalling
In Canada, so far, they distinguish between ordinary Americans and MAGA lunatics.
So far.
pat
I’m convinced trump is doing this because Zelinsky would not go along with that phone call. In fact, he actually admitted it. The russia, russia, russia impeachment, right?
Anyway, trump is a malicious, vindictive, psychopath. MVP. In fact, I think his whole operation of Destroy Our Government Everywhere is vengeance for his impeachments.
And when we get to musk, don’t forget that the FAA was trying to fine him $640,00o or so for one of his rockets blowing up. And I think USAID had something to do with the end of apartheid.
Caveat: my memory might be a bit hazy about the details.
Bottom line, nothing either one of them is doing is supposed to help anyone but them…
Elizabelle
Great topic. The Guardian ran a story this weekend on this topic.
‘What the hell’s happening to your country?’ Traveling as an American under Trump 2.0
Martin
This is getting there.
Targeting Trump and Musks personal wealth is a lot more useful than random people who might have bought a Tesla years ago.
trollhattan
@japa21:
A return to the ’70s when friends bumming around Europe would wear Canada flag pins in hopes of being received better.
“Say a-boot more convincingly.”
bbleh
Spent ~2 months traveling in Australia and NZ after the election, everyone was nice, and the topic never was raised unless we did. But we quickly found it useful to make some offhand remark about “the recent catastrophe” or something, and then things went more … easily.
Concur w comment above that one common attitude was a sort of bewilderment — like wtf happened over there?
Phein64
My middle son lives in Malta, and I took the other two boys to visit him over the holidays. He says a lot of the immigrant workers and Brit ex-pats are Trump supporters, and the first thing we saw coming out of the airport was a billboard sign saying, “Make Malta Great Again!” with a picture of Trump. Most of the other players on his basketball team are Serbians, and my son warned us not to be openly critical of Trump around them.
On our side trip to Ljubljana, we didn’t see any such. If I can pass the Slovene language test, I qualify for citizenship as a grandchild of Slovenians.
Dober dan, and moje vozilo na zracni blazini je polno jegulj
Socolofi
@TheOtherHank: Welcome to the club there bud!
Here’s the (current) law: https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/c-29/section-3.html
You will need the birth certificate, but generally Canada is pretty good about that. You’ll then need to apply and send in the paperwork, which includes:
– Your father’s birth certificate
– Your birth certificate (which generally lists your father & mother; if not, other documentation proving your father is your father)
Takes about 6-9mo. Also, they are _super_ strict that everything on the form is filled out properly – I went through this for my kids (both in US) and forgot to check some box saying my wife and I were married and they sent it back for me to fix.
Note the law for second-generation board abroad is in a bit of flux at the moment. Right now, AFAIK, kids born abroad of citizens also born abroad are considered citizens and should apply as quickly as they can. The plan is to change the law such that said kids need to have some “clear connection to Canada” such as living in the country for 3 years or such. It’s sorta reasonable in that they don’t want people passing down citizenship generation after generation to people who have never been nor intend to go to Canada, but part of the discussion is that in countries that don’t recognize birthright citizenship but parental citizenship, it can cause somebody to be stateless. I imagine they’ll get that sorted relatively quickly, so I’d hurry if you’d want to pass your citizenship down to your kids.
Elizabelle
@Martin: Yeah, am sure the Scottish police will be right on that.
From the story:
Projection, projection, projection, thy name is anything Trump.
La Nonna
Our European and Brit friends here are all commiserating with us, and being quite fearful of the evisceration of an entire government in 6 weeks. We are horrified, and unfortunately have lots of family in the US who are now hostages to this craziness, despite being in BLUE areas. We are really afraid of losing our Social Security income, both started paying in in 1962, and it is enough to live quite well here in rural Italy. After 14 peaceful gun-less years, along with universal healthcare, really cannot envision a return to the States.
Spanky
@bbleh:
I’d be interested to know if anyone has a short answer that includes Reagan, Murdoch, the religious right, and Putin in the equivalent of an elevator pitch.
JoeyJoeJoe
I saw this Reddit thread:
https://www.reddit.com/r/canadatravel/comments/1j4kj4d/comment/mgic56b/
Sounds like as you aren’t a fascist supporter, and don’t try to get sympathy by emphasizing that you’re one of the good guys, individual visitors should be fine. People can tell where you stand by how you act.
As for the jackasses mentioned in that thread chanting “51st state “, hopefully they got some “special ingredients “ in their orders.
Bruce K in ATH-GR
The other day I had an encounter with a group of locals who wondered what the hell my accent was, a not uncommon occurrence since I moved to Greece. I speak Greek with a definite accent, but it’s apparently not identifiable as American. I’ve been placed as a German, a Belgian, an Australian, and this last time the person inquiring could have sworn that my accent identified me as a Scotsman.
Given the current state of affairs, and the US’s realignment to become part of the modern Axis of Evil, I suppose that I’m fortunate that the locals can’t place my by how I talk. Unless I speak in English, of course.
When COVID hit, I made a point to acquire a Greek passport in addition to my American passport. I’m now glad I did that.
There’s a historical parallel here that I bring up to explain to locals what the hell’s going on back home – the junta of 1967, which was smashed in 1973-74. And there’s also the old parallel, of Berlin 1933-1945. (Is it bad of me to hope that the “Downfall” stage of that parallel hits much sooner? Like, before Labor Day this year?)
Martin
@Elizabelle: Unfortunately I think the only way to stop Trumps open bribery situation at Mar a Lago is to burn the place down. Simply take it away from him, because the courts and congress aren’t going to stop it.
Jay
Not content with all the nations they have pissed off so far, Felon Musk, L’il Marco, DJTdiot and crew are insulting Poland.
Chief Oshkosh
@WaterGirl: To be clear, that’s a YouTube family I came across — it’s not me and the lovely Chieftess! :)
Spanky
@Jay: Well this is excellent news. From what I know of the Poles, it’ll result in them telling the MAGAs to fuck right off, increasing aid to Ukraine and double daring putin to provoke them.
I wouldn’t piss off the Poles.
bbleh
@Spanky: ours usually included a generous dose of bigotry — racism, misogyny — and some humor around the Murdoch part. And a reminder that it was a NARROW thing. And a bit of agreement — yeah seems like we DID kinda lose our minds, sorry ‘bout that…
Socolofi
Most people in most countries have always been able to make a distinction between people and policies. That said, someone wearing a MAGA hat, even in the heart of Canadian conservatism like Calgary or Edmonton, is asking for a beat-down.
A lot of Canadians are now asking the same questions people ask here – largely, why aren’t Americans doing more to protest this, and why isn’t the Democratic Party doing anything? From the outside world, they remember various protests during Trump I, things like the nightly protests for Black Lives Matter and such… and the total inaction so far feels very much like tacit approval.
dougcb68
I have lived in a small town in western Mexico for 35 years. For the most part my friends are fairly calm about these current events. Mostly they are well accustomed to being disrespected as sub-human by the United States. This is nothing new. They are extremely proud of President Sheinbaum’s handling of the situation, under the rubric of “cooperation but not subjugation.” The old meme: “Poor Mexico! So far from God and so close to the United States” has not changed.
Jay
https://nitter.poast.org/SpencerFernando/status/1898775415444975848#m
Socolofi
@JoeyJoeJoe: yes. And can’t be stated strongly enough: do NOT try to get sympathy but claiming you’re one of the good guys!
Jay
https://nitter.poast.org/BulwarkOnline/status/1898826232717877650#m
MagdaInBlack
@Jay: I take it elno twitted something, but I seem to be missing what he said ?
Deputinize Eurasia from the Kuriles to St Petersburg
Last May, I joined my wife in Melbourne while she was at a conference ahead of a week of diving and beaches in Moorea/Tahiti. My first day, I always have to stay on my feet to get ahead of jet lag, so I chose to go to familiar ground – family court (I wanted to see the system differences. As I was asking one group of robed lawyers with elaborate neck garb if they minded me attending their closed child custody hearing, the Australian equivalent to a guardian ad litem said “I don’t know – what do you think about Trump”. My response to her – “he’s a complete fuckhead, an absolute [redacted]”.
I made a whole new pack of friends that day.
I can also say that no Greek or Brit that I’ve spoken to over the past few years has been a Trump fan either.
Jay
@MagdaInBlack:
Does it matter?
https://nitter.poast.org/wartranslated/status/1898771652160389449#m
kindness
Putin has said he thinks Russia should still control Poland and the Baltic states. Tossing Ukraine to him won’t stop him. Honestly I don’t think Trump would allow our military to respond to an Article 5 declaration (a NATO country being directly attacked). I know it’s bad karma but I find myself wishing he and Elon would just die. None the less, the FSM’s buttery zen doesn’t work that way.
David Collier-Brown
@TheOtherHank:
A quick scan of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada site at https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/canadian-citizenship/proof-citizenship/apply.html said
parent who was born in Canada or naturalized in Canada before I was born”
Deputinize Eurasia from the Kuriles to St Petersburg
Last May, I joined my wife in Melbourne while she was at a conference ahead of a week of diving and beaches in Moorea/Tahiti. My first day, I always have to stay on my feet to get ahead of jet lag, so I chose to go to familiar ground – family court (I wanted to see the system differences. As I was asking one group of robed lawyers with elaborate neck garb if they minded me attending their closed child custody hearing, the Australian equivalent to a guardian ad litem said “I don’t know – what do you think about Trump”. My response to her – “he’s a complete f**khead, an absolute c**t”.
I made a whole new pack of friends that day.
I can also say that no Greek or Brit that I’ve spoken to over the past few years has been a Trump fan either.
West of the Rockies
There will some day come a slew of books examining just how beyond horrible Trump and his supporters were… wish they were out now.
Sloane Ranger
I run a Sunday Lunch Club for retired people in Northamptonshire, here in the UK. The conversation touched on Trump during our last lunch three weeks ago and almost everyone expressed their shock that he had been re-elected and their dislike for him. Even our out and proud Reform Party member admitted that, while she liked his stance on immigration and America First and thought the UK should emulate it (UK First), she found Trump himself personally repugnant. But their opinions were expressed dispassionately, with no real emotions behind them.
That was before the Oval Office ambush and Vance’s remarks insulting the British and French military (only we get to insult the French), people I’ve spoken to since are quietly seething with anger and a sense of betrayal.
I, personally, have been checking what I buy to try to avoid US products. I buy Heinz and Palmolive products, but they are all made in the UK or EU so I’m not currently going to boycott them as potentially punishing British and European workers for actions taken by the US administration doesn’t seem fair, but I’m keeping this under review.
As for US tourists, I volunteer at our local museum and we occasionally have an American visit, but none have been in while I’ve been on duty since Trump took office. If they do, I’ll be polite, but no more.
kalakal
Everyone I know in the UK loathes and despises Tmurp. He’s everything we most detest in a person. They’re horrified by what’s happening
TBone
Well, this seems otherworldly..
FAFO: Paper Straw Edition
I need a straw for alla those salty tears & schadenfreude on top like a cherry.
MagdaInBlack
@Jay: Thank you. The comments to the first one you posted implied it was nbd. So I wanted to see the original that they were dismissing.
eta: and OH FFS @ elno ” I literally challenged Putin to one on one physical combat ….
GTFO
TS
@Pete Downunder:
That describes what I was trying to say & I will add that I do know 2 people who think electing trump was OK, (one who thinks abortion should be banned world wide, the other tending racist), the remainder don’t distinguish between who did/did not vote for trump – there is no trust in the US and what it intends to do on the international scene.
We are thankful not to have him on our domestic scene but the actions within the US have world wide repercussions that include those who live down under.
Baud
@TBone:
Jesus, that’s as bad as the CEO of an EV car company supporting Trump.
The Unmitigated Gaul
@kalakal: Same in New Zealand.
TBone
@Baud: smart is not in the wheelhouse
https://bsky.app/profile/wutangforchildren.bsky.social/post/3ljvk3irsr22u
WuTang is Not For The Elno! (Scroll down for the deets).
matt
@MagdaInBlack: Oh please, I’d love to see elmo get a polonium shank.
TBone
Currently watching Youngblood Hawke for tips, tricks, and inspirational dialogue. Got some booby trapping to do!
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Youngblood_Hawke_(film)
JoyceH
Just saw an article saying that Trump is miffed at King Charles because Charles’ meetings with other world leaders makes Trump feel “less special”. Geez! What a freakin’ BABY!
TBone
Heh! Illustrated!
https://bsky.app/profile/wutangforchildren.bsky.social/post/3ljvafrretc2k
matt
@JoyceH: President Caillou
Sloane Ranger
@JoyceH: But, but he should have saved himself, just for meeee!!!
WaterGirl
@Chief Oshkosh: That wasn’t clear to me on reading it, so I am glad you clarified.
WaterGirl
@Socolofi:
To me, it doesn’t FEEL like tacit approval, but I can see how it might LOOK like it.
WaterGirl
@Deputinize Eurasia from the Kuriles to St Petersburg: You used a word that throws you into moderation.
I deleted it and approved your comment.
TheOtherHank
@Socolofi and @David Collier-Brown:
Thanks for the info. As soon as I get my dad’s birth certificate I’ll send in the Application for Citizenship form and get my boys working on establishing their citizenship.
JoyceH
Oh, and? Now apparently minerals aren’t enough. Ukraine also has to commit to elections, which is against their constitution during war time.
Meanwhile Lindsay Graham is either displaying a vestigial spine or at least making noises as if such a thing might exist. He’s saying that the US can’t stop weapons and intel going to Ukraine until there’s a cease fire in place. Maybe last night he was visited by the ghost of John McCain Past?
Trabb's Boy
Dual citizen living in Canada for 30 years. It’s so strange talking to my siblings and seeing how little the whole Canada thing registers with them. I mean, of course they object, but it’s such a drop in the bucket of awful there. They don’t understand why I won’t go to visit.
Up here, the sense of betrayal and threat is huge, and because we don’t live there, we are in a position to write off America in general. Not going to throw stones at Americans coming up to vacation or anything, but not willing to parse out whether a business is run by Democrats or Republicans before deciding whether to boycott.
There’s definitely a sense of “why aren’t you leashing your damned dog?”
Medicine Man
Timely thread. I was just sitting here in the grip of my ADHD arguing with the air about this.
Up here in Canada, I am very worried about the threats; those jibes hit us right in our national psyche. While on one hand, I understand that most Americans have no interest in starting smoke with us, I also know that your government does things that you don’t want and didn’t ask for. I’ll also note that many Americans are unaware of your own strength and how you sound; a common response to trump’s threats from y’all is “oh, he isn’t serious.” Most countries in the world, including my own, don’t have the luxury of that breezy dismissal, especially not coming from the one nation that could absolutely hurt us.
All that said, I blame your government and the lunatic fringe of zealots that support everything your current president does. It is a distinction that most Canadians around me seem to make as well. I’m also aware that even a lot of the people who voted for trump this time didn’t vote for this chaos.
sentient ai from the future
@Jay: the preamble to that, musk saying “i literally challenged putin to one on one physical combat over ukraine” is extremely instructive as to how badly he’s lost the plot.
it also makes me all the more convinced that him and his doge shit team are pwned sixteen ways from sunday, where they arent actively on the take from putin.
whenever the event that is being prepared for happens, it will initially be promoted as an accident rather than enemy action.
Bazza
View from my corner of Canada. I know a lot of Americans opposed this and are trying to slow it down or undo it, and I appreciate that, but realistically, all my attention is focused on getting my family, my community, and my country through this in one piece. I have all the anger and anxiety I can manage, I have nothing left over to spend on who deserves how much blame.
I don’t know how long it will be before the Canadian people can trust the US (as a country) again. At least a generation. We’ll see how bad things get.
Jane2
@ArchTeryx: A conservative UCP voter told me that she will vote for Carney in the upcoming election – and the thing that really swayed her was Quebecois singing O Canada at the hockey games. She said we can get back to squabbling among ourselves later.
Medicine Man
Pure speculation, but I suspect what could permanently destroy our understanding of what our US cousins are going through is if Canadians start being hurt or killed as a consequence. Either direct state force or some kind of asymmetric armed trucker’s convoy 2.0 while trump and co gloat like dime store mafia knockoffs. If things like that happen and anything resembling a majority of Americans either don’t notice or coast on normalcy bias or apathy, then — fair or not — Canadians will probably start seeing you all as enablers.
Splitting Image
I currently live right between the Little Poland and Little Ukraine areas of Toronto. The current sentiment towards the U.S. is exactly what you would expect.
Not to say that an American would be putting their life in their hands by coming here. Someone was organizing overseas voting last October right down the street from me and had a Harris-Walz sign out front of their house.
I think that the only person in the world less popular than Trump in these parts is Putin himself.
Birdie
@Pete Downunder: I am in Australia and have the same experience.
Jay
https://nitter.poast.org/ChrisO_wiki/status/1898861166937378950#m
bjacques
I live in Amsterdam, and today saw a Tesla with the bumper sticker saying “I bought this before I knew Elon Musk was crazy”. I told the owner that, as an American, I approved this message.
I should also point out that Dutch people don’t generally do bumper stickers.
mrmoshpotato
@kindness: Hell, Dump should’ve choked on a Big Mac when Nixon was in the White House.
mrmoshpotato
@JoyceH:
He should go cry to his Daddy Elon.
WaterGirl
How can someone so obsessed with looking strong and tough… not understand that he looks weak and pathetic?
mrmoshpotato
@WaterGirl: Dump is an idiotic manbaby (has been for his entire sad life.)
Jay
https://nitter.poast.org/Tendar/status/1898832881914347659#m
Traveller
I should have something reasonably interesting to say on this subject…I am in frequent contact with people all over the world…but I got nothin`…their lives are being forced to change because of Mr Trump and the radical redirection of US…not of just policy…but rather what the United States has become, or exposed itself for what it really.
So people abroad are living their lives but with the stark reality that nothing is the same. Again, I am in almost daily contact with many people from far away…but here, today, the problem is me…I am probably literally crazy over what my country is doing….some friendships here in the US have been severed, overseas everyone seems sympathetic to my agony…my cris du coeur.
I realize that this is about “Me,” and not the suffering and thoughts of people abroad…but this is where I am, speechless, deeply unhappy. I wish I had more…Best Wishes, Traveller
YY_Sima Qian
Here in the PRC, people are primarily concerned w/ they own daily struggles, what’s happening in the U.S. draw the same kind of passing fascination as a car crash on an expressway might.
Of course, Trump has not yet trained his sights on the PRC like he did during the 45 term, Chinese state media & social media have not been focusing on the happenings in the U.S. Perhaps both sides are trying to preserve the space for some kind of “grand bargain” on trade & investment down the line.
Part of it is because people in the PRC are quite used to having the U.S. being very critical, & sometimes openly hostile, to the PRC through the decades, especially after the trade & tech wars through the Trump 45 & Biden terms, the incipient Cold War 2.0 through these 2 terms, & 4 years of insinuations or outright accusations of COVID-19 being a Chinese engineered virus released upon the world. Some judge in Missouri just ruled that Beijing is liable for letting COVID-29 looses & imposed fines of UD$ 24B.
The detachment could change if Trump decided to escalate the trade & tech wars significantly, or turn up the rhetorical heat.
In general, though, no matter how bad the relations have gotten in the past 4 decades, Americans not targeted for mistreatment or abuse. Most Chinese see foreigners as guests in the country, guests are honored as long as they behave as guests. (There can be soft bigotry & ignorance toward darker skinned visitors from Africa or South Asia, but even then open hostility is rare. Mostly people are just curious, despite their chauvinism.)
Ruckus
@TONYG:
They are what comes out of that orifice.
Splitting Image
@WaterGirl:
Part of what motivates these people is the desire to have people tell bigger and bigger lies to defend them. That is what (to them) denotes real strength.
That is also why they call themselves Christian but go out of their way to be cruel and so far opposed to Jesus’ teachings that even atheists call them out for it.
To be as un-Christian, or as unpatriotic, as they possibly can but to still be popularly spoken of as good Christians and good patriots is balm for their miserable, shrivelled souls.
West of the Rockies
I hope that we’re just about at the point (collectively speaking) where Trump and his minions are singing about the Fatherland and the rest of us begin channeling Victor Laszlo… Allons enfant de la patrie…
Frans
The USA have betrayed us in Europe. Fuck you very much, except for those of you who voted for Kamala.
mrmoshpotato
@West of the Rockies:
Can we also punch Nazis in their fucking fascist faces?
Jay
https://www.12news.com/article/news/regional/la-frontera/mexico-refuerza-requisito-de-documentos-para-turistas-estadounidenses-travel-requirements-immigration-form-us-mexico/75-fb2b34f2-661c-45e5-8fa5-4d81be53e789
BarcaChicago
I lived in Spain for 10 years, eight of which were the Bush II years. I never had a problem because when I would talk about it, I would become so enraged and disgusted with the States that it would leave them in the dust. It probably helped that I’m very focused on politics and therefore was genuinely upset about what was going on in my country rather than defending myself against a potential derogatory response. Mostly though, if you’re not an asshole, no one’s gonna bother you. Don’t be a jerk and be authentic.
The Lodger
@japa21: I’m surprised that you believe a Canadian would care what you think.
TONYG
@Jay: Interesting. JD Vance must be despised within his own family. What a pathetic little man.
WaterGirl
@Traveller:
That’s true for me, here, too. This is not the U.S. of even 3 months ago. 3 years ago. 30 years ago. Devastating and heartbreaking and appalling.
WaterGirl
@Splitting Image: What you are describing is so convoluted as to behind of crazy. Which doesn’t mean you are not correct.
Cheez Whiz
@Spanky: the short answer is that the Republican party went insane in its quest for permanent rule by a minority.
Longer? Reagan showed the party they could leverage a celebrity espousing the supremacy of white American religious culture, Murdoch monetized that idea, and Putin just added a little push in one direction.
WaterGirl
@Frans:
Through Trump we have betrayed Europe. We have betrayed the entire free world. We have betrayed our forefathers. And ourselves.
someguy
I’m an American who lives and works in China. So far I haven’t seen much difference from locals. The news seems to have an undercurrent of “the American system produced an elderly man with dementia and now a corrupt buffoon” so I guess Beijing is probably pleased with that. Economic problems here could lead to blaming America, which will be interesting.
Other foreigners tend to have given up on us at a people. Many of my friends know I’m working on getting things ready to try migrating permanently to Australia or Europe, and understand why now more than ever.
WaterGirl
@someguy: We could have avoided all of this if more people were engaged, paying attention, or more discerning.
All this destruction was so unnecessary.
Denali5
Even the Hungarians could not believe that Americans elected Trump. They see him as an idiot.
Msb
@Asparagus Aspersions:
pretty much how it is in Denmark. People are scared and angry (two sides of the same coin), but don’t take it out on Americans who live here. They are unfortunately used to pitying us.
Msb
@WaterGirl:
sadly, yes.
Just Some Flyover
Speaking of Canada (and I’m officially a dual citizen) what in the hell is Wayne Gretzky of all people doing palling around with Fuckface of all people?? I’ve followed hockey a long time and always thought Gretzky was a decent person. By all accounts he is. That’s what makes this so mystifying and disappointing. He’s never appeared THAT friendly with any U.S. president (or Prime Minister for that matter) in the 45+ years he’s been in the sport. He’s generally had a pretty clean record, has never said anything really controversial. And you’d think that someone who’d been around pro sports as long as he has could recognize sharks and con men a mile away. (Hell, he played for the L.A. Kings when Bruce McNall owned the team! (Bruce went to prison for defaulting on a multimillion dollar loan.))
Is Wayne really that gullible or is there something else at play here? Is it his wife’s influence?
AKA The Man
@Just Some Flyover: maybe he got his bell rung a few too many times?
Vicki Delany
I’m Canadian living in Canada, and I can tell you feelings are real. Against Trump and his lot only so far, but early days. I suggest everyone see the speeches last night from former Prime Minister Jean Chretien and PM-to-be Mark Carney. I’ll be talking more to BJ people later.
Jesse
American in Germany here. I don’t interact with that many Germans, but I can say from the little I have heard is devastating. Germans seem to be filtering out the nonsense (Greeland, Gulf of America, etc.) and focusing on building up on their own defense industry, a lot, and quickly. They see that they have to take these steps to decouple from the US. I haven’t yet seen any outwardly anti-American sentiment yet. I think that people get that Trump is just the next 4 years so they’re not necessarily getting their generalized US hate on. But they do see Vance in the wings, too, and the rise of Trump-style thinking and interpret that as the writing on the wall. They’re working more closely with France on reducing (possibly eliminating) US nuclear deterrence (US nukes are stationed in Germany).
Jesse
@Jesse: replying to myself to add that Germany does not have its own nukes. (The only European countries that do are France and the UK.) For decades, the thought of acquiring nukes was wildly taboo. (Even the presence of nukes on German soil, managed by the US, was regarded by some as unacceptable, though I think this was and remains a somewhat fringe positions.) There are occasional protests in front of the various US bases here (I lived near a couple of them).
Jørgen
Heard on Danish radio this morning that Mute B. Egede, Greeenlands leader, says that Trump is “disrespecting” Greenland. Considering how careful he has been in his public statements until now, this shows that he now believes that even being neutral about Trump is electoral poison in the upcoming elections.