Today's NY Times--Europeans Distinguishing Between President and American People

Thanks for linking the article. As more forum members head out this spring and in fact, I am traveling to Paris in a few weeks, I'd hoped this is what I would find. It is the viewpoint that I've noticed before (possibly during the 1st Trump Administration) where the local citizenry can separate the two and are cordial and welcoming to travelers.

I had planned on going to Europe in 2003. Then the US invasion against Iraq took place prior to my planned summer trip of 2003.

I went, regardless, on the planned 8 weeks, flying SFO to Paris CDG. In Germany on 2 separate occasions I was told (I won't say warned) by Germans that "your president is not very popular in Germany. " (Fine, OK) The anti-US stance on the war in 2003 was very high, likewise in France but Germany's percentage opposing Bush pushed towards 70%, the French opposition % was a bit lower than that registered in Germany.

So, I was cautioned, so to speak, what about it? "They" knew I was from here since every time Germany and France I used a credit card, (almost always) , "California" or " America" was on the card...that was done purposely.

The trip's itinerary then stayed and proceeded to include Germany, Poland, and France over the earmarked period of 8 weeks. It turned to be a very memorable trip getting to Gdansk. Just being in the lower Vistula area which was until then in and of itself just beyond my imagination. Getting there from Berlin took ca. 9.5 hrs when the train pulled into Gdansk close to 5 PM ...fantastic.

This trip , this summer, I have no concerns at all re: local reaction, response, and that sort of thing. ...basically not interested.

The writer wrote a cheery, reassuring article, but kept it one sided until he got to the end. There he quoted people who hold the American voters who elected the Amer President responsible. Since he kept this opposing view undeveloped and stuck it at the end, we don’t get a full picture.

Over 50 plus years of European travel and countless American presidencies I’ve never encountered rudeness nor contempt.

The individual in the White House makes no difference to me when I travel. Unworthy of effort or thought.

🎶 We Are The World 🎶

I’m more concerned that FOX “News” dominates the airways in Europe.

Ages ago when I was working at the Fox movie studio I was driving over to a sound stage and crossing between the stages was Rupert Murdoch…slamming on the brakes we stared each other down…

Elizabeth makes the most cogent point.

How can I be held responsible for something I don't support and tried to stop?

I’m more concerned that FOX “News” dominates the airways in Europe.

New one to me. We have our homegrown tv channel that follows the Fox model, but Fox is hidden away in the 300s next to BBC, CNBC. Italian, Chinese, stations.

I won't say I am not concerned about how people in other countries view my country, but my immediate concern--and the reason for this thread--is whether as an individual who is American traveling in Europe, I will be treated with courtesy. The article and other information I have received indicate that I will be, though there are always exceptions.

Even people critical of a particular country do recognize that no country is perfect, that every country has a history of good and bad, and that many oppose--at times at great personal risk--the policies and actions of the countries they live in. I realize this is an especially anodyne view of the world, but I generally prefer one that offers hope rather than despair.

And as I was told (though this was before Iran), Europeans critical of the president saw daily on television what was happening in Minnesota and elsewhere. Because I will be there shortly, I will find out firsthand.

".... I will find out first hand." Very true, yes in a couple of months.

"They" will know I am from here, not only at check-in only upon presenting the Passport but also if my credit cards piqued their interest since the details in the small print revealed in all 4 of my US cards betrays where I am from. In terms of treatment reception , interaction, I am to an extent curious in Austria, France , and Germany , in some ways I don't care regarding treatment, be it pleasant, courteous, apathetic, rude, brusque, sarcastic or downright hostile. In any sort of dialogue, short or more engaged conversation, I let the interlocutor know I am from here, ie CA, and so on.

Last summer at passport check in Passau on the night train, I definitely got more than the subjective feeling i was singled out for more questioning upon presenting my US passport to the controller, when all the folks checked prior to my turn, all Germans or European, had been asked nothing , he posed no question to them at all. I had watched all this as he and his female colleague did their perfunctory checking. He sees my US passport, asks me in English, "what is your destination?" (bad sign, but understandable). I ignored his question in English, replied in German. This went on again with another sentence from him.

I can expect likewise this trip when crossing at night between Germany and Austria.

When Europeans visit my country, I really don't care whether they respect or share my personal political views. I don't offer them in the first place, and I don't inquire about theirs. Neither do I travel to Europe to discuss politics with random Europeans. This would be like promptly launching a discussion of political issues when you first meet new relatives - impolite, useless, and insane. Even if I were intensely interested in "the European perspective" on some specific topic, I'm not pretentious enough to assume I would get that from a handful of random encounters. And even if I did think I could understand "what Europeans think" from a handful of random conversations, I would first want to know my new European acquaintances better on a personal level. You really can't have political discussions with complete strangers that you don't already understand these days and expect anything useful to come from them.

It doesn't bother me either if I'm treated impolitely here or there, whatever the reason. That happens at home, and it happens abroad too, because rudeness is a universal element of the human condition. No country is immune.

The only thing I can add is that I've been in Spain from a few days after this new "conflict" began.

Not once did I encounter anything other than courtesy from every single person I've met so far...and not once did anyone bat an eye when I handed over my US credit card, or my passport upon checking into hotels...

When I was here last year I did bring up politics once or twice (in a sort of offhand side comment about how I felt towards "our leader") and I was astounded that several of the people I spoke with (who were not in the tourist industry) actually were in favor of a harsh stance toward immigration and told me that they wished their own leaders would consider something similar here... More shocking, I spoke about similar in (of all places) Mexico a few months ago and got similar responses----

This question comes up a lot. I wonder if people from countries other than the USA are so concerned with how they will be perceived when visiting foreign countries, or if this is a particular preoccupation of Americans? (That is an honest, not rhetorical or sarcastic, question.). When I meet people from countries whose leaders I disagree with, I never assume the person I am meeting shares their views.

"Last summer at passport check in Passau on the night train, I definitely got more than the subjective feeling i was singled out for more questioning upon presenting my US passport to the controller, when all the folks checked prior to my turn, all Germans or European, had been asked nothing , he posed no question to them at all."

The reason for this is that all EU citizens have freedom of movement within the EU, so someone travelling on e.g. a French passport would normally not be required to explain what they were doing or where they were going to the same extent someone from e.g. the US would be.

What is the actual point of the NYTimes ? Random people, some judge americans, some don't. No explanation of why these particular people were spoken to and no clarity about why the conclusion was that 'Europeans' don't blame the american people. Move the paragraphs into a different order and the headline conclusion could have been the opposite.

How is 'There are a range of opinions across a continent of 750 million people' even a topic for discussion?

I'm not sure 'Europeans are distinguishing between the president and the American people.' should give anyone much solace.

This question comes up a lot. I wonder if people from countries other than the USA are so concerned with how they will be perceived when visiting foreign countries, or if this is a particular preoccupation of Americans? (That is an honest, not rhetorical or sarcastic, question.). When I meet people from countries whose leaders I disagree with, I never assume the person I am meeting shares their views.

Excellent point, Cat! I don't think they are. When I was visiting my brother in Utah this summer, I met a family from Romania at Arches NP who didn't seem to have a care about how they were perceived. I had a really delightful talk with them, of course partly because I was going to Romania in the fall, but I never sensed that they were concerned about how they would be perceived. However, I do think I bent over backwards (a bit) to make sure that they knew that I did not like current administration.

I think that is an Americanism. Let's face it - the general stereotype of American tourists is that we are overly friendly and really want to be liked. And I think there's a bit of truth in that. That said, I kind of assume that because I'm liberal, I will be more liked than someone who is not. And I'm not sure what that says about me.

First, Europe is not of uniform thought. The post, probably the article, assumes that all Europeans think alike and that the thought is progressive. In fact, the EU legislative body is is further right of center than any time in history. Some parts of it are further right than anything in the US. And no, Hungary isnt even the furthest to the right. https://www.europarl.europa.eu/resources/library/images/20241015PHT24546/20241015PHT24546_original.png [corrected as per GerryM. But point remains].

Second, Europeans are People just like you and me. Are Slovak and Hungarians and Russian tourists safe in your US hometown? I would assume so. (If not, send them to Texas). Why would you suspect Americans are open minded and welcoming despite politics, but Europeans are not? I have never understood why the question was ever asked or keep being asked. On this count at least, I think the Hungarians and mabye Europeans as a whole, are ahead of the US. A lot less politically driven hatered then in the US.

Finally, this sort of lack of understanding works against the cause. If you want to change the direction of a democracy the secret is to win the hearts and minds of more voters. I would like to see change and I cringe in that you don’t even realize (or maybe care) how many people this sort of garbage alienates. You branded 50% of the US population as being so evil that average working class day to day Europeans might attack them.

https://www.europarl.europa.eu/resources/library/images/20241015PHT24546/20241015PHT24546_original.png See all the blue on the right?

What are we looking at exactly here? Forgive my ignorance, but I don't recognise any of the names of constituent parties. Is this Hungary's representation in the EU?

First, Europe is Right of Center. The post, probably the article, assumes that all European (and RS forum members think alike and that the thought is progressive. In fact, the EU legislative body is quite a bit right of center currently. Some parts of it are further right than anything in the US. And no, Hungary isnt even the furthest to the right.

That's quite a bit of a broad brush to paint things with. I'm sure you know that. 18", like the one you'd use for wallpapering :)

OP states....
"I won't say I am not concerned about how people in other countries view my country, but my immediate concern--and the reason for this thread--is whether as an individual who is American traveling in Europe, I will be treated with courtesy."

Good grief, stop reading or listening to the news. You treat others with courtesy and respect, and you will get that in return. When travelers from other countries come to Chicago I treat them as I would my neighbors, courtesy and respect! I've never had any issues over the years traveling anywhere, regardless of the political situation.

That the EU person does not need to answer where he is going is understood, neither does he need to carry his passport either in order to cross into another EU country, the ID card suffices, be it la carte d'identié or Personalausweis.

In looking through the passport of a non-EU person such as I, ie the controller flipping through the pages is looking for one piece of info. He wants to see if it is there.

I know I'll be doing night train border crossings as part of this coming trip and will go through this sort passport check again, hearing the same question, likewise he will receive a rapid spit back answer. I'm not there to be helpful and friendly, let alone deferential, just correct.

My getting attacked in Europe (daytime) , get jacked in the streets American style....not possible.

I thought the NYT article was informative and pertinent. It is the reason I started this thread.

Months ago, as noted above, I sent a PM to someone whose views I respect, who has been living in Europe for years, who had been previously helpful with answering my PMs seeking information. I asked whether, because of political views, Americans visiting Europe should have any concerns. The answer was no for the reason offered. But it was noted that it was at times uncomfortable for Americans in Europe during the Iraq war. And at home, this was the time of freedom fries and the Dixie Chicks uproar.

In the last 24 months, we have had the vice president critical of Europe at the Munich Security Conference and making comments favorable of AdF in Germany, the president making less than favorable comments about Canada and Europe, greater reluctance to support Ukraine, reduced enthusiam for NATO, tariffs, Greenland, the November 2025 National Security Strategy paper, and now the Iran war and the resultant increase in energy costs. Regardless of how you feel about the president and his administration, so much has happened so quickly that in a time when politics in the US has divided families and ended friendships, I thought the article would be appreciated.

Reading some of the posts above, I could have written a thousand-word response--and clearly violated several forum rules. Again, I wanted the focus to be narrow without delving into politics: Should Americans be concerned visiting Europe? The article addressed that question.

Sorry, 14 months.

I cannot read the article.

The American president and his folks are not the problem for Europe, their voters are. And they remain after next elections, and they also come as tourists. Also the other minded US Americans come as tourists but too many of both sides have the same for Europeans strange mindsets and habits which make them not the favorite tourists in Europe. Of course the tourist industry is friendly to money in all currencies - "pecunia non olet" is an old European saying.

Travelers can visit a lot of places in Europe which will give an impression about the hard learning curve Europeans did to achieve a certain level of humility and human maturity. Other nations and cultures on other continents reached a different level - not saying that different is automatically worse.

Europeans have a long history of migration on their continent, immigration to their continent and also emigration of people to other continents. Therefore most regions have a strong approach of openness and hospitality - differing and different of course.

A strength of Europe and also part of attractiveness to travelers are the manifold of deep authentic-roots cultures which learned not only to co-exist but to create more culture, economy, fun and strength together - peacefully.

corrected as per GerryM. But point remains

You still didn't tell us what the graphic you posted means. Is my guess correct?

Okay Gerry, I wnt play your game. Maybe its clumsy put but the point is the same. I have enough respect for Europeans so as to not believe they all have identical beliefs. Like sheep. Argue that if you like.

I was just asking what the graphic means.

Maybe its clumsy put but the point is the same

The point you seemed to be making in your post before the edit was that

First, Europe is Right of Center.

If I am guessing it correctly, the graphic you posted with no context such as text, or even a human-readable clue in the URL, shows us how many MEPs Hungary sends to Brussels, and their party affiliations.

Fair enough, lots of right wing MEPs represent Hungary. It's hardly surprising if you know even the first thing about the country. I was just digging you up on something that was confusing to me as an illustration accompanying that particular paragraph. It was possibly misleading or disingenuous on its own, when there was no indication it related directly to Hungary, not to a wider point you were trying to make about Europe. You'd need to work a lot harder than that to make such a broad statement about Europe as a whole in a convincing way imho. Your edit took care of some of the issues anyway, so no worries for me in the end up.

It's only fair if you make a big tub-thumping post about politics on here that I come back and take a little dig at your technique. I was trying to avoid directly engaging with your stance or providing any counter with my joke about big brushes. Neither of us should get into it really.

I have enough respect for Europeans so as to not believe they all have identical beliefs. Like sheep. Argue that if you like.

Why would I argue that? That would be a silly point. I'm not sure the New York Times would seek to make that point either. I don't think that way, and they're probably way smarter than me. There's a great diversity of opinions. both in the way individual countries are governed, and many different sets of public and individual opinion within them.

Of all the Europeans I've ever met, politics never came up unless I knew them personally. Some were to the right of me politically, some to the left, and some didn't care at all about politics.

The last time we were over there was last year in Spain, and whenever someone asked me where we are from, I would say something like "United States and I apologize for everything we are doing." They would always laugh, and this went on until my wife told me to stop apologizing.

Really, imagine if you were in your hometown and you met a Russian. Would you harangue them about what Russia is doing in Ukraine? No, unless you are a really rude person.

To GerryM, here is a link to the graph with some more explanation. The names represent the groups of parties in the European Parliament.

https://www.europarl.europa.eu/about-parliament/en/organisation-and-rules/organisation/political-groups?&at_campaign=2024-AboutParliament&at_medium=Google_Ads&at_platform=Search&at_creation=Sitelink&at_goal=TR_G&at_advertiser=Webcomm&at_topic=Group&at_location=BE&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=23099652472&gclid=CjwKCAjw-J3OBhBuEiwAwqZ_h2ML9i1E4fBY22hORKmGVFCq6yrYRlEVQ3azGqQhOfcvdtjNwI9fRBoCIegQAvD_BwE

Trump and his lackeys are pretty much universally despised outside of the US (and even within the US), the American people are not. That's a simplistic and succinct statement but I believe that it's a helpful reminder to Americans wanting to visit Europe.

Summed up nicely.

Would you harangue them about what Russia is doing in Ukraine?

Yes. But I would be careful afterwards to thoroughly clean my door handles.

Thanks to all who have responded. I am going to move on to other topics.

JC: "...a helpful reminder to Americans wanting to visit Europe."

What European citizens might think of any individual US president does not help me in any way as regards planning or carrying out my travels in Europe. If it helps you, as you say it does, then I think you should explain how.

What has helped my travels most? I first hit Europe under Nixon and Ford, then under Carter, at a time when Eastern Europe made up more than half the continent and was off limits to all of us in the West. Western Europe loved Carter - and then spoke ill of his "nuke-loving, reckless-cowboy" successor. Yet I had no travel troubles during Reagan, other than the Iron Curtain. And then, suddenly, Eastern Europe gave up its oppressive ways against its own citizens and opened up to tourists like me, in part because of his unpopular politics. I've really enjoyed my time in the East, something that might never have happened if 1980's Europeans had been given voting rights in the USA.

To GerryM, here is a link to the graph with some more explanation. The names represent the groups of parties in the European Parliament.

Thank you. It would have been great if we could have got there a while back. I obviously have gaps in my knowledge you could have helped me with

Isn’t it time that we start to think as a true global community? A community of open minded people who see each other as humans in the first place. If this is the story that is going to bind us, than it doesn’t matter (and so no worries) what your background is. Just my two cents.

What European citizens might think of any individual US president does not help me in any way as regards planning or carrying out my travels in Europe. If it helps you, as you say it does, then I think you should explain how.

It's quite simple. There's clearly a level of concern amongst a number of Americans regarding how they're likely to be treated when travelling to Europe in the current climate under the current US administration. There have been multiple topics posted on this forum concerning this subject including a sticky thread. The responses have been consistent, the current administration, particularly the President, is widely despised in Europe and worldwide. The average American citizen is not and Americans will be warmly welcomed within Europe with very few exceptions. My comment, whilst succint, was intended to reassure and allay any concerns that some US citizens may have regarding travel to Europe in the current political climate. You may not share such concerns but others do and they are the ones my reassurance is aimed at.

And then, suddenly, Eastern Europe gave up its oppressive ways against its own citizens and opened up to tourists like me, in part because of his unpopular politics. I've really enjoyed my time in the East, something that might never have happened if 1980's Europeans had been given voting rights in the USA.

Don't conflate oppressive, communist dictatorships with the average Eastern European citizen. They didn't "give up their oppressive ways" they fought hard for political freedom from their tyrannical governments. Communist governments didn't decide to open up, they collapsed or were overthrown. If you think that people enjoyed living under communism and were sorry to be liberated from it then I respectfully suggest a bit of historical research.

I understand / already understood the point you made and are making again, JC.

But you made another point at 3:56, which is the one that concerns me. Please re-read it. Maybe you meant something other than what you wrote, or maybe I misunderstood what you meant. But here is my paraphrase of your post there:

Americans with travel plans for Europe are better off if they understand that Europeans generally despise their president.

So if I have that right... the question remains... How does knowing this benefit someone's plans for Europe? In other words, what would be so negative about an innocent and naive American traveling to Europe in total ignorance of Europeans' take on Trump?

I don't see how it helps anyone at all to know this. They can still fly there, travel there, drink French wine, get a spa treatment, eat Nuremberger sausages, and fly home. And they will, apparently, still be treated with courtesy. Right?

Don't conflate oppressive, communist dictatorships with the average
Eastern European citizen. They didn't "give up their oppressive ways"
they fought hard for political freedom from their tyrannical
governments.

"Eastern Europe" (your word "they") was intended to reference the East-bloc governments - not average citizens.

My point here was that Europeans (Western Europeans at that time) took a very dim view of the American president when that same president was in fact a huge cheerleader for the average Eastern European, one who helped accelerate the demise of communism in Eastern Europe... which demonstrates that European consensus sometimes just gets it all wrong anyway, another reason to ignore all that when you travel Europe. Getting one's itinerary right is enough!

Americans with travel plans for Europe are better off if they understand that Europeans generally despise their president.
So if I have that right... the question remains... How does knowing this benefit someone's plans for Europe?

You've left out an important part of my sentence and one that clearly illustrates what I meant.

Trump and his lackeys are pretty much universally despised outside of the US (and even within the US), the American people are not.

It's the "the American people are not" bit that is pertinent. Many Americans are concerned that the current President and his administration might mean that they're treated with hostility if they travel to Europe. The vast majority of Europeans are completely capable of distinguishing between the government and the American people and therefore American's have little to worry about in that respect. That is the point that will assist Americans when it comes to deciding whether to travel to Europe or not. If I can assist in allaying someone's fears then that is helpful to them.

I hope this clarifies my comment.

JC, very well said. Thanks for those beautiful words.

I will continue to go to Europe as the top priority destination, spending my vacation money there in the time I have left to do such traveling regardless of the US president in office and his view seen from aboard, whether that president is beloved or quite the contrary as long as no official ban into the EU is imposed.

All that "red tape stuff " associated with the USD State Dept pertaining to personal safety is not a concern, not a pressing issue, certainly no deterrent, ie not interested, likewise with the way related to how I would be socially received and treated that with politeness and courtesy , or simply the contrary. I am still going, period.

I appreciate JC's ability to distinguish the American people from our government. With that said, some of my ancestors were still steaming about the British for that "taxation without representation" business and some them took out their anger on some perfectly innocent and lovely English tea in Boston harbor. Sorry about that.

Happy travels.

I think the idea of distinguishing between people and government is a good one on the whole.

However, absolute twats come from all sorts of different places, cultures and religions.

It's the same when people try to make arguments against minority communities here in London, tarring them all with one brush.

Some people are just d-ckheads. It doesn't mean that everyone of that nationality / race / colour / religion /gender is a d-ckhead. Neither does it mean they're all stand up guys that you'd want to hang out and shoot the breeze with.

Sure, when I meet an American on vacation in the queue for Starbucks in Oxford Street, I'm going to try to find common ground in conversation, whatever their views about a number of different topics. I'm probably not going to get into the way they voted with them unless they bring it up while they're waiting for their Frappuccino.

If they're in my local giving it the big MAGA after a few beers, I'm going to take the piss out of them relentlessly.

It makes me think of this sketch from BBC Scotland comedy show, "Chewin' The Fat". I'll link to it below on YouTube, if anyone cares to watch it.
https://youtu.be/Z_UGD7AazMI?si=2jKGukTkmQZKlQCG

I've had a ton of American friends and acquaintances over the years. Most of the American immigrants (in my social or work circle anyway) have tended to be more blue in their outlook, or somewhere past the regular American two party spectrum to the left. It's not been an issue for me in my experience, but this probably introduces a little skew, as visitors are more mixed.

I think it's fair to say that "Europeans will do this" or "Europeans will do that" is a bit simplistic. Depends on a number of factors how people may react to you on vacation.

Further to what I was saying above, it's not always helpful to have a "good guy" and "wank" tray like the guy at the end of that video I linked to, even if the premise is quite funny.

I've tried to train my thinking about people over the years not to think in black and white terms about them. Instead of saying or thinking "He's an idiot", I've tried to think more along the lines of "He was an idiot when he said that". I'd like it it if people didn't completely define me by annoying personality traits, political views, times when I was an asshole in the past, etc etc. I'd like to think there's more to people, even MAGA people, or their English equivalents, that on the surface I have very little in common with.

Sorry if it's in the weeds for this topic.

Yeah, this thread is a "Sunday" thread, probably get axed. That's ok.

But it makes me feel good about this forum. I would scientifically estimate that the signal to noise ratio in this thread is 95.6%

Excellent work, forum. I'm proud of us.

JC: Actually, I left out nothing. I used ellipses (...) which are used simply to avoid repetition. The ellipses functionally include both of your claims - that 1) Europeans and other non-Americans broadly despise our current president, and that 2) Europeans don't despise Americans in spite of their disdain for our President. OK? (I at least tried to avoid repetition, right?)

Having made both of these points - the same ones Horowitz' makes - you have made both of them "pertinent", just as Horowitz does.

His is a clearly political piece, written to entertain and hornswoggle the international travel crowd into buying into his general disdain for our current president. His claims are unsupported by anything but minor anecdote. Since the individual Europeans we might be in contact with (desk clerks, waiters) are at work and probably not able or inclined to share their views of the US president with customers, and because we are unlikely to conduct interviews like Horowitz did, we will gather even less raw data than he did. And because we are not foolish enough to draw conclusions about Europeans' views based on 2-3 encounters we might have in the handful of places we visit - as Horowitz has obviously done - we'd be crazy to think we understand what Europe thinks - or to fall for the conclusions of Horowitz.

Claim #2 is equally goofy. You probably will be treated nicely in most cases, but you can and probably will be treated poorly in Europe at some point because rudeness is universal. Sadly, all this article does is attempt to convince you that US politics could well be the root cause of whatever rudeness you may experience on the part of some gruff desk clerk or taxi driver, when there are probably a hundred other causes for said rudeness other than the fact that you are an American in Europe. This guy is actually planting fears of politics-based mistreatment. He also says Europeans are "forgiving" (his word) of American visitors for the 2025 election results - meaning that we are all bad actors, irrespective of which candidate got our individual votes or whether we voted at all, but that we are getting a "pass" in Europe. So Europeans uniformly decry our president, but have all agreed to give all of us a pass because we should be forgiven for our choice? Swallow all this at your own peril.

I would definitely not be looking to "allay" the fears that Americans might have on the basis of anything in this article.

OK, here are some anecdotal observations. We were in Ireland last summer. I had six discussions with locals on this subject (yes I counted - travel as a political act). They were initiated by them when they recognized I was American, and included two taxi drivers, a bus driver, two shopkeepers, and an older couple in a pub. All Irish, except for one Ukrainian.

All of them were very unhappy with the direct impact of US policy on their lives, particularly the cost of oil - this was right after the first bombings of Iran. And the waffling on support of Ukraine was disturbing to them, as the threat of an aggressive Russia is much more relevant to them than to us in the US.

So my conclusion was that US politics is not just something for which Europeans (yes, a generality) are just indifferent bystanders. And they form their own opinions, not from US social media. But they will treat you right, as an individual human being, and be interested in a discussion, not a fight or a lecture. Nothing new here - happens every trip.