How are Americans received in Europe right now?

Previous threads on this general topic have mostly been deleted due to becoming political. Here is a recent one that was locked :

https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/general-europe/worried-americans

Be polite. Don't wear clothing with political slogans. Be circumspect about the subjects you talk about. Basically, dont be the stereotypical American tourist that I'm sure you are not.

I’ve travelled in Europe during all kinds of political strife in the US. In 2018, I was often asked in shops, “Where are you from?” When I said the US, they would ask “What do think of your president?” Usually with a roll of the eyes or a look of disgust, and a laugh. I imagine it will be similar. Probably without the laugh. “Fooled me once, shame on you. Fooled me twice, shame on me.”

I remember traveling in Ireland in March 2003, right before the US started bombing Iraq. All the innkeepers wanted to talk about US politics. It was very interesting seeing the war protests, and the massive difference in the news reporting. Europeans are very aware that American politics often ends up affecting them, for better or worse.

Let it be known throughout Europe US news coverage is by FOX.

I miss Cronkite, MacNeil/Lehrer, Huntley and Brinkley.

You know, professional journalists.

When asked where I’m from I’ll reply Hollywood which most often generates such inquiries “ have you met movie stars?” “ Do you live near the Hollywood sign?” I’ll then mention what my career entailed.

By then any comment about who’s in the White House is mute.

And just so you know, the answers to the above questions are Yes and Yes. Hooray for Hollywood.

On the last several trips, when asked where we’re from, I say, “United States, Colorado,” and then gesture to show a mountain, and say, mountains.” The topic becomes geography and activities like skiing, and not politics. That’s still my plan for Poland, in May.

We’ve been received as welcome visitors. I don’t see anything recent that will cause me to alter my behavior. We got political questions from people in Ireland, two years ago. None that I recall in France last summer, except from a Swiss couple facing us on a train, then from a concerned B&B owner in Germany. But they were about America, and nothing personal. Well, there was one drunk guy at a pub in Ireland, but I don’t consider his condition to represent most Europeans.

On the last several trips, when asked where we’re from, I say, “United States, Colorado,”

I do something similar, but I simply tell them the state I hail from, and leave out the "USA" part (since I think that is pretty obvious)...and my state generates lots of discussion, curiosity.

When I was asked about our current President In December, I minced no words and said exactly what I think about him. Nobody exactly flinched at my comments, but with Trump talk of tariffs, NATO abandonment, and Greenland annexation, I imagine my comments would be enthusiastically received today.

Right on Claudia sure do miss professional journalism. We are going to France next week and are. Not worried I will report back when we come home. we do not plan to discuss politics.

I am currently in Scotland. Two weeks ago I was in Iceland. I've been to both before this trip. Nothing was different. No one treated me differently, no one said anything nasty.

In the next three months, I'll be in Luxembourg, France, Switzerland, Austria, Chezhia, Poland and the Baltic States. I don't expect any problems.

As long as you don't display anything associated with Agent Orange you should be fine.

As a former US loving and visting Brit if I happen across any maga hatted vistor they will get a robust exchange of views

We are looking forward t meeting some Americans during our trip to Normandy in july, just to hear the views of real people.

The Beautiful State of Kansas where we get no tourists unless you know someone or are passing through 😇

I heard that on my recent Asia cruise a MAGA went at another passenger. No way of fact checking.

And nobody please even make a joke about Canada being 51st state. We don't find it funny. A Brit tried it on me and I mustered the dirtiest look I could imagine and told him plainly it is no laughing matter.

My understanding is that the folks in Denmark and in other parts of Europe are not delighted with the talk of taking Greenland on a pretext similar to one used by Putin in Ukraine. What did Einstein say "There are decades where nothing happens; and there are weeks where decades happen"? Or did Billie Eilish say that? Anyway, I wouldn't suggest discussing attacking another member of NATO to acquire territory if I were Europe right now. I'd change the subject to something innocuous... like who really started WW I or whether football (aka soccer) is the dumbest sport.

JD Vance, "Denmark is not being a good ally"

"If we need to take Greenland that is what President Trump will do
because he doesn't care about what Europeans scream at us"

Trump on Greenland: "It cannot go on the way it is. It's not gonna go
on the way it is. I'll make a statement. It's not gonna happen. So
they're going there, and it's purely friendship ... people from
Greenland are asking us to go there."

David--We are headed to Greenland and then back to Iceland this summer. I already know how at least some of the people of Greenland feel. One of our guides is quite vocal, and I get it. My husband and I were talking about this last night and said we will just travel as we always have and hopefully show that we have respect for their country, etc.

mikliz97,

I would also avoid bad mouthing football.

Happy travels!

or whether football (aka soccer) is the dumbest sport

Now I have to laugh. That's really cool. I mean it sincerely, not sarcastically.

I'm just imagining myself sitting in the Ruhr region (Germany's soccer capital) and not realizing I'm in the 'Borussia Dortmund' area, raving about how great 'FC Schalke 04' is (both are important soccer clubs in the Ruhr region). This could be really funny. I would probably take to one's heels an run :-)

Puts me in mind of the old truism that Glasgow taxi drivers all support Partick Thistle. Of course they don't, it would either be Rangers or Celtic generally, but they have to remain diplomatic and neutral. "What team do you support?" can be a bit of a loaded question in Glasgow.