‘People might treat us differently’: Trump era leaves US tourists in Paris feeling shame

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c2kvqnx0dnno

by fuzzball909

42 comments

  1. That depends on whether you’re MAGAt or not, I guess.

  2. At the same time, you don’t see this privileged American class organizing demonstrations in support of Europe or Canada. Either they are part of Trump’s supporters (MAGA), or they are silent Democrats who let Trump sow chaos (Biden, Kamala, Obama), as long as it doesn’t affect their personal interests.

  4. Just don’t talk about politics enjoy your life and don’t spread Trump’s garbage rhetoric you will be fine. People in europe can use brains and separate people by more filters than just Americans, Canadians etc.

    **Edit: Just to make it clear for some people replying;**

    ***Im european and i dont put all normal hard working americans into the same basket. I do put your entire government into the same basket tho.***

    ***Im not generalizing americans either or saying all americans put all europeans in the same basket.***

    ***This is the reason why i advised op to enjoy his holidays and stay away from debating politics all together as it’s a quick way to ruin his trip.***

    ***And i mentioned Canadians randomly not generalizing them either could have been French, German whatever i just wanted to point out I’m not putting all people of the same nation into the same category, i apply more filters after that….everybody can be a decent person or a cunt…its absolutely personal choice.***

  5. First, Parisian treats everybody equally bad.

    Second, US tourists are since a long time considered an annoyance because of their tendency to think all cultures admire them, expect other places to adapt to their cultural preferences, no manners in public places and restaurants, loud, flocking and ignorant.

  6. Americans who voted Trump or did not vote at all should be ashamed. The others are just victims.

    Now that Nicolas Conquer guy (is that name really a coincidence?) should be ashamed. He´s the type that should get a ticket home with a layover in Venezuela. Doesn´t understand we don´t need a ´European Country X First´ but a ´EU First´ attitude.

  7. > “I’m disappointed in our country. We are upset about the tariffs,” she explained.

    Morons. They don’t care about the country becoming a dictatorship, they don’t care about russian influence, they don’t care about DOGE.

    They only care about being EmBaRrAsSeD

  8. I wouldn’t shame US tourists unless they say Trump is awesome. Then they can bugger off.

  9. It’s time to take off the star spangled booty shorts, Jeff

  10. As long as you’re not the loud, obnoxious American who spews trumps garbage, you’ll be fine. Most people can separate the person from the countries antics

  11. I find it hilarious that he went to the lengths of using tape to cover up the American flag, but it never crossed his mind to…just wear a different hat.

    He still wanted to walk around with a flag stuck on his head. He doesn’t feel that bad about his country.

  12. And they should. The way America is treating its former allies is absolutely shameful.

  13. I’m embarrassed to be an American in America to start.

  14. Pretty sure that if you just behave with common sense and politeness then you’ll be fine. Yeah you’ll encounter some nasty discriminatory behaviour from shit heads hating you for simply being American without doing anything, but it doesn’t sound like most people. Or if they do hold those views most people keep it to themselves instead of lashing out

    At the end of the day you’re a tourist so you’re here to enjoy yourself and spend a bit of money there and then. Those businesses want that money 🤑, so it should be fine

  15. Imagine turning up with that stupid flag jizzed all over your clothing and luggage.

  16. I’d say Americans who travel to experience the rest of the world probably aren’t MAGA

  17. I went to Paris in 2018 and met a very friendly cab driver who wanted to chat in English. I was with my friends and when he started talking about America we assured him we did NOT vote for trump and he laughed and said all the Americans he meets tell him that.

  18. I always ignore loud and obnoxious USians anyway. The most they get out of me is “Me no English” laced with the most thick fake Italian accent possible.

  19. That might be because of the fascism freakshow in US taking place, right now.

    Get you shot together learn some manners, wear a suit, be thankful and then you might not be embarrassed anymore.

  20. My history teacher during the Iraq war literally came back from Paris crying. Funny how history repeats itself…

  21. The whole flag carrying thing should be left at home anyway.

  22. I mean… this article seems to be focusing on tariffs and yeah people in Europe are annoyed about tariffs and your childish lunatic of a president. But what I think people are also concerned about is the looming threat of American fascism. Sure he’s putting idiotic tariffs on everything and engaging in insider trading to line the pockets of his rich friends, but he’s also deporting people left right and centre, sending them to actual prison camps without due process, stripping people of their rights, literally killing children by stopping USAID, erasing the achievements of women and minorities, blaming everything on trans people and foreigners… I mean tariffs are just the tip of the iceberg and Americans are just … letting it happen.

  23. I’m also ashamed of my (Dutch) government and the people that voted the extreme right in The Netherlands into power, but I don’t hide that by wearing pins from another country. If someone asks I’m not afraid to tell them what a mess I think it is. If you think you have a horrible government, speak out about it!

    I also don’t have to cover all of my Dutch flags that are slapped all over my apparel. They aren’t there to begin with.

  24. Those baseball caps are the biggest flag. I personally find it really annoying that they do everything with them on, especially indoors, like eating in a restaurant, walking in a museum, etc.

  25. I tell you, earlier this week in Madrid I saw a 20 something American wearing a MAGA hat…not very intelligent.

  26. It took an absolute lunatic to be elected president for Americans to start developing some semblance of self-awareness. Hopefully, I reincarnate back in 200 years to see how this turned out.

  28. Americans always make it about themselves. It is always we we we. Even the “good” ones are so full of ego and themselves. It is disgusting. It is always about how it affects them, never about anything or anyone else. This article is a prime example of their ego. Americans are like richer russians.

  29. I can relate to that feeling. I’m a Canadian and I often get mislabeled abroad. I’m particularly sensitive to that this time around 😓

  30. **insert Donald Glover GOOD meme here**

    But seriously, whatever shame or things it takes to get these people to take the political situation seriously. I guarantee these people have Trump voting friends and family who they need to talk to about how American politics are messing up the world. Let them feel shame, discomfort, anything to make them give a damn.

    Signed an American who’s glad to live in Europe

  31. Well shame as a feeling has it‘s use. Trying to think about that might solve the issue 🙂

  32. The first time I visited Paris, my friend and I really tried hard to speak French whenever we could. We would practice what we would say before ordering etc.
    We ordered crepes from a street stall, and the man was helping us with our pronunciation and teaching us vocab while he cooked our food.

    This American family came over ,”we want 5 crepes.”
    He just vaguely waves them off saying no closed. No closed.

    They walk away and he turns to us, Americans are so rude. They don’t even ask.

  33. Doe a start, how completely naive to think as an American, that people throughout Europe are not going to have a fairly dim view of USA at the moment. Secondly, why, given the multiplicity of designs for hats and Tshirts available, is it seemingly a necessity tnat Americans have to wear their national flag somewhere on tbeir body? It is utterly bizarre and something which is solely associated with said nation. Why go abroad and the feel the need to wear your country’s flag? Attempting to disguise oneself as Canadian is the icing on the cake. It’s not as if it is difficult to spot an American anyway, just as it is with most nationalities who may be visiting one’s country.
    Just behave normally, respectfully and observe the social codes of the country one visits, don’t crap on loudly about Trump or America as if he is the best thing since sliced bread and the US is paradise which should be the envy of the world, because it isn’t, and never has been.
    In fact, as an English speaker and native, it is on a par with Russia, amongst a list of places I have no desire to visit or live in, which is a shame as the geography and natural beauty of America is something to behold and treasure, but the people spoil it somewhat, and I don’t just mean the Trump voters. I’m sure the majority of Americans are fine, but they have in general been a turn off for me since forever in a way that Europeans, Asians, South Americans are not. It is a shame my prejudices exist, but they do and the world is a fascinating place even without America in it.
    I wish them well, in tbeir domestic future and in visiting and even in emigrating to the UK and Europe (where I, personally, would make them welcome should they become my own neighbours because- manners), but my advice is to dial it down a bit and shed yourselves of the superiority complex- it is unwarranted and particularly so at present, now that you have allowed a new dictatorship to spring up IN THE 21st CENTURY!! Shocking.

  34. I’m getting really tired of the victim complex of Americans. Open your eyes and just admit what your country is, and deal with it.

  35. A third of Americans voted for Trump and another third didn’t even bother to vote. Most of them got exactly what they wanted.

  36. Oh I get it. I feel it quite passionately myself. As a US/Danish dual citizen the betrayal is hard felt. But I also recognize that my empathy has been a little broken since November. And that sense of superiority is very dangerous and the exact thing that can lead to hatred or bigotry.

  37. I still don’t think that you should treat people badly just because they are from the USA. There are people from other countries which policy I don’t support.

    Treat indoviduals the way they deserve – if they are friendly, be nice.

    I hate the way propaganda and the erosion of freedom ked to the politics we see now in the USA. But in Europe there are also people who would like to undermine our democracies, getting more and more successful.

    Better show the world (and the US) why Europe is such a great place to live in.

  39. All Americans should feel shame every time they set foot on any foreign soil. Not welcome.

  40. Can’t blame them. Who would vote for trump? I am saying this as an American, who definitely did not.

  41. Americans are so entitled they think the French treat them like shit specifically and not just generally like the rest of us.

  42. Just do as your countrymen and -women did back in the George W. days: buy a sweatshirt with an oversized Canada flag on it and wear it all the time.

    Not that it worked (Canadians wouldn’t wear that!), but it was a clear enough sign of embarrassment with your government, so we give you a pass.

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