Much of the US has greeted the rise of Donald Trump with horror, unease, and a great deal of confusion. How could the country that elected Barack Obama swing to support a sexist, racist idiot?
As a Brit living in the states, I certainly share this disgust. But although I can’t explain the reasons for Trump’s ascendancy, I’m not particularly perplexed by it. Like many foreigners, I’m used to raising my eyebrows at the unfathomable habits and extremes of Americans. In many ways, Trump seems in keeping with the typically American infatuation with grandiose displays of wealth and misogyny enshrined in laws against abortion. Though it’s far from justified, the US has a pretty horrific international reputation. To the rest of the world, Trump just seems like the country’s inevitable next step towards implosion.
After five years in the US, I consider myself an Americanophile. The US is a powerhouse for academia, contemporary literature, comedy, jazz, technology, film, and rap (I could go on). But, as any American who’s taken a trip abroad can attest, many foreigners—particularly the snooty European kind—look down their noses at yanks for being loud and uncouth. They aren’t being complimentary when they say, “That’s so American.”
Henry Morales
who?
Anthony Cooper
With our excessive drinking habits and sense of entitlement, Brits aren’t exactly beloved either. But the first time I traveled with Americans around continental Europe and was mistaken for a yank, I remember being surprised at just how rude the locals were to me. I was routinely glared at, and museum officials shouted instructions at me, seeming to presume I was eager to disrespect their culture. Even spellcheck finds it hard to imagine an outsider with an appreciation of American culture; it refuses to recognize the word “Americanophile” (though it is most definitely a word), but happily accepts both “Anglophile” and “Francophile.”
Philip Seib, professor of journalism and public diplomacy at University of Southern California, agrees that much of American politics and culture can seem baffling from the outside. “We tend to lurch here and there on issues, we tend not to correct problems such as the gun problem, when we know how devastating it is. We seem to not really have a moral compass that guides foreign policy,” he says.
Evan Kelly
Although the US certainly can evoke admiration as the land of Walt Disney, Mark Zuckerberg, and democratic ideals, Seib notes that incidents such as the recent spate of police shootings cause major damage to its international reputation.
In truth, the US is likely no less confusing and disturbed than many other countries. But because it’s so powerful, the rest of the world is acutely aware of its downsides. Ask foreigners what they associate with the US and, along with the American Dream and appreciation for MTV, there will be references to fast food, obesity, superficial optimism, and geographical ignorance. When Vice asked its international staff for their take on the US, they also came up with homophobia, evolution denial, lack of medical care, the death penalty, and Las Vegas. When a country’s international reputation is at least partly shaped by Vegas, you can see why Donald Trump seems like a somewhat suitable fit.
“If you asked me to paint one enduring image of America, it would be a dude in a muscle vest smoking a cigar while driving a Mustang full of babes over a row of motorcycles and into a canyon,” said the Vice UK writer. Tell me you can’t see Trump’s face on just such a dude.
Seib points out that George W. Bush set a significant precedent getting foreigners accustomed to strange US presidents. “People overseas saw him as a wild cowboy.” But, he adds, “Trump takes that to an entirely different level.”
Gavin Sanders
Of course, as a Brit, I’m one to talk. Brexit, in my view, is just as stupid and destructive a decision as electing Trump would be. When my home country voted to leave the European Union, it revealed the previously overlooked levels of xenophobia within the UK. Should the US opt for Clinton, the rest of the world will undoubtedly breathe a sigh of relief, acknowledging that, really, Americans aren’t so bad after all. But if President Trump does become reality, it would only reinforce the stereotype of the US as the boisterous, overgrown buffoon of the international stage.
Nathan Sanders
STFU GOOK
GO BACK TO MAKING MY SAMSUNG TV AND STEALING AMERICAN INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY
Asher Russell
If you don't like it, leave it.
We don't need more Americans whining about how they hate America, any more than we need more foreigners whining about how they hate America.
Maybe stop worrying about America and go do something good for YOUR community. Quit criticizing what's over the fence. Be constructive, do right by your own kind.
And politely fuck right off back to your peninsula, kthx.
Hunter White
Funny looking British flag u got there.
Keep sucking Kim Jong-Un's dick, fucking chinks. One more assassination threat, and he'll nuke the fuck out of you slanted-eye boyfuckers.
Ayden Roberts
So not only are we getting a grand master shitposter as president we're also gonna be pissing off foreigners in the process? This election is amazing
Dominic Perez
>When my home country voted to leave the European Union, it revealed the previously overlooked levels of xenophobia within the UK. Dropped.
Also I voted leave.
Jose Evans
nice union jack there m8
Bentley Sullivan
>RACIST LIBERALS FUCK OFF CALLING HIM (((RACIST))) JUST BECAUSE HE DISAGREES WITH YOUR SHIT POLICIES
Samuel Williams
it couldn't be that more and more people have had their opinions changed by interactions, no way. just rampant racism for no reason!
Eli Reyes
I am quoting the article you fucking idiots. No wonder Obama and Bush won two terms each No wonder Trudeau won your erections
Anthony Davis
Fuck off zipperheads. Nobody cares.
Alexander Brooks
(((Olivia Goldhill)))
Owen Baker
nice argument, briton.
Cooper Rogers
>implying this hard that it changes anything I said.
North Korea is still Best Korea. So fuck off.
Ayden Rivera
reminder that civilized romans and southern europeans saw the people of briton as uncouth savages for thousands of years.
Oliver Gonzalez
>quoting You sure are missing a lot of green text fag
Michael Garcia
hmm. this user has a point. Even though I understood, my starcraft friend
Julian Hughes
Why Vote for Some one that is going to die of illness before they even get into office if they win, anyway.
Criminal and Garbage to begin with, world will be better off with them dead.
Cameron Ramirez
>How could the country that elected Barack Obama swing to support a sexist, racist idiot? that was niggers, liberals, voted fraud, foreign donators, propaganda
Oliver Diaz
I will say that when I worked in Saudi Arabia I got abuse as they thought I was a yank. They were much more pleasant when they realised I was a Brit for whatever reason.
Blake Barnes
The funny thing is, that up to his "election" I was blue pilled as fuck. That one event made me look closer and now my mental well being is fucked.
Joseph Richardson
>the rest of the world will undoutedly breathe a sigh of relief >acknowledging ... Americans aren't so bad after all Why do immigrants/other nation's citizens think Americans cares about what they think? We have a population larger than most European countries combined, and a population density that is sparser than theirs, and separate cultural backgrounds that differ between states (less so than 50 years ago, mind). We don't consider the opinions of Mexishits or Canacucks, and they're our closest neighbors, so the rest of the world can fuck right on off, as far as the normal American is concerned.
David Hill
>No wonder Trudeau won your erections >Erections
Boy, those stereotypes are true aren't they?
David Sanders
virtue signaling, proxy CTR, etc. It's nothing important.
David Harris
The War in Iraq supports my assertion. But good on you for contributing to the conversation. :^)
Carter Gray
You guys learned proxies, cool >24c has been added to your account.
Jaxson Jones
KEK mit uns.
Ryder King
If the rest of the world is teRrified then we know we're making the right choice.
Robert Martinez
That’s so American.
Charles Butler
thanks
Julian Rivera
>Much of the US has greeted the rise of Donald Trump with horror, unease, and a great deal of confusion.
AND DROPPED WITH FIRST SENTENCE
They really think trump supporters are a minority? fuck them AND their psychosis they rode in on!
Kayden Garcia
>implying
Hudson Richardson
>i'm
Kayden Collins
>korean
Landon Flores
thanks
Noah Rogers
No, he typed correctly. Trudeau is hot af.
Nicholas Morgan
The biggest trump supporter is a fuckin jew michael savage. I have no problem with sexism etc but trump and right wing fags support putin who hates freedom and democracy, made our country poor, destroyed economy and russian politics, supports islam and dictator shitholes, killed the free russian media and now russia has no any critics of the goverment and no opposition candidates for elections. Russia is like north korea now and trump supports this kind of politics so fuck him
Jack Harris
>People think Donald Trump is racist >I get mad that he's pandering to black churches and softening his immigration policy
Cameron Hughes
>How could the country that elected Barack Obama swing to support a sexist, racist idiot?
FIFTEEN MONTHS
For 15 months they've been spewing the Le Drumpf is raciss meem with no effect whatsoever
When will these cocksuckers realize that it doesn't work?!
Anthony Jenkins
...
Parker Robinson
The Eternal Roma: Behind every shit post
Robert Collins
>qz
is this some sort of huffington post buzzfeed tier publication?
Dylan Flores
>As a Brit living in the states, I certainly share this disgust. Fuck off, the UK supports Trump.
Matthew Ramirez
you know what they say if your enemies think you're doing something that shouldn't be done DO IT
Lucas Sullivan
Nothing worse than arrogant Euro's with an inferiority complex shitting on America/Americans, and I say this as a European myself.
Nicholas Ward
then why is he banned from entering UK?
Hunter Lewis
We have this thread everyday Sage
Elijah King
this is just beyond pathetic now
thanks for shitposting to Cred Forums, enjoy your 2 shekels
Zachary King
he looks like a little kid
Josiah Scott
>“If you asked me to paint one enduring image of America, it would be a dude in a muscle vest smoking a cigar while driving a Mustang full of babes over a row of motorcycles and into a canyon,” said the Vice UK writer. Tell me you can’t see Trump’s face on just such a dude. Rock n Roll baby.
Jace Garcia
>In many ways, Trump seems in keeping with the typically American infatuation with grandiose displays of wealth and misogyny enshrined in laws against abortion.
Trump wears cheap suits. Hillary wears pantsuits costing thousands of dollars. And laws against abortion? What? There are far stricter abortion laws in oh so socialist Europe.
Eli Jenkins
>Much of the US You mean less than half its population? Trump is ahead in the polls which means a majority wants him to be president
Hunter Powell
>Trump is ahead in the polls
As much as the media keeps telling us otherwise.
Ian Ortiz
Truly a glorious time to be alive
Elijah Gray
Why dont you mind your own shithole Korea. You are just scared Trump will pull the support and you will be annexed within the month.