I’m non-American myself but I am an Asian who immigrated to Europe. The news and social media here show the US imploding under Trump regime. My cousin immigrated to the US, but I am surprised that he doesn’t know about the wanton ICE arrests and harassment of anyone who is of foreign origin, even white foreigners and tourists. Initially, he said that “only illegals are getting arrested”, but was equally surprised or nonplussed when I told him about what is happening. Well, he’s already there, and I did tell him to be careful just in case.
Maybe I should not be surprised because news in my home country generally put the US in pedestal. Since the end of World War II, people feel like we owe the US a lot after being liberated from Japanese occupation, even though we ourselves were formerly a US colony. So, the local media tend to portray the US as a pristine and perfect society. But my compatriots residing in the US say it is overrated, depending where you are, because of rampant homelessness, no social welfare and worsening cost of living crisis. Now, that I think about it, the local media never really portrayed those about the US when I was growing up. Of course, US is still miles ahead than any given developing country in terms of standard of living, but still overrated I understand.
NY -> Canada
US politics doesn’t get nearly as much coverage here. A lot of Canadians don’t realize just how absolutely fucked everything is down south, which is dangerous given the close proximity. Major news comes through but the nuance doesn’t.
The Murdoch-owned media in the US and abroad are complicit to the American Nazi coup, so don’t expect people there to be informed about what is really happening.
Like others, I’ll skip over social media, because it’s a bit ill defined in English. Maybe it’s different when you restrict it to a national language.
The news and social media here show the US imploding under Trump regime.
Kind of the same, although in Canada we’re so close to them a lot of the nuance comes through in the news, as well.
So, the local media tend to portray the US as a pristine and perfect society.
That part couldn’t be more different. We legitimately have been doing better on a lot of social measures for decades, but don’t really have a distinct culture, other major trading partners, and are just a lot smaller. All that adds up to a weird, resentful inferiority complex that colours everything, even when we’ve been close and interdependent.
As far as I can tell, even Western Europe falls into the trap of romanticising America pretty often. Hollywood has been no joke.
Denmark: If I had to average it out, we are getting pretty fucking tired of their shit in a relatively quiet sort of way. And very wary of the logical conclusion of a process we’ve seen happen before, right next door.
There are of course some people who are still stuck in the eighties and are unable to adapt to rapidly changing circumstances. I would characterize them as “confused”.
Ultimately though, we can’t bring the US’ house in order for them, and when that rubber band finally snaps under the tension of stoked civil division, Denmark’s going to have other concerns of its own to attend to, many of which will be a direct consequence of America turning completely inwards (and hopefully staying that way, frankly). Fortunately, there’s enough people who can see it that there’s a fair amount of focus on strategic decoupling and preparation.
How seriously are you taking the whole Greenland thing? The attempted annexation of Canada has completely turned the political discourse and national mood on it’s head here, but he doesn’t see us as a legitimate military target, while Greenland apparently is.
Quite seriously. When the neighborhood’s largest collector of guns (and self-proclaimed ‘leader’ of the neighborhood watch they founded) develops a sudden case of rampant frothing fascism and starts loudly ranting about the benefits of committing armed burglary, people tend to take note.
US ex pat who lives in Denmark (before this absolutely dumpster fire of an administration).
That’s how I see the news here too, generally a bit tired of the US’ shit and pretty keenly aware of some of the consequences.
Everyone I know tries to go there and buy from there as little as possible, which is a nice effect
Man would I love to be an expat lol
It’s good! Really good. Fucking hard sometimes. I’m lucky enough to do it with a lovely partner but you can feel so much more alone than you ever have imo. But it’s very rewarding and lovely. It’s nice to be able to choose a little of cultural and political stuff that you really identify with rather than whatever you got originally
Thanks for the added perspective! To synthesize the media landscape of an entire country a pretty tall order, so it’s nice to know you think I wasn’t completely off.
In any case, it’s good to have you with us. Probably not the worst place to be when this shit show inevitably ends in tears.
Yeah, of course there’s a lot of opinions about it. I’ve even met a guy who has never left Continental Europe who is pro Trump. but for the most part it’s people deciding to not vacation there anymore.
People from all over are very welcoming of us. I’m always prepared for some pushback of “fucking Americans” and it just never comes.
Tak! Der er virkelig dejlig at være her :) vi elsker Danmark og kan rigtig godt lide vores anderledes livsstil her
We used to have an occasional visitor who was an avid Trump-proponent. He didn’t have particularly nuanced views on politics, economics, civics or… pretty much anything other than comic books, computer games and internet memes.
It will probably not surprise you that he was also a massive troll. He’s no longer welcome on the premises.
Og det er godt at høre at I nyder livet. Det er til syvende og sidst pointen med det hele :)
Most Australians think the US is a fucking disaster
The only ones who don’t are stupid racists
There are many non-racists turned mentally ill by fascisms psychological warfare. I have already had to cut off multiple friends and acquaintances who went down the “intellectual dark web” to antivaxer/cooker/brainworms rabbit-hole. None of them are racists or anti-immigration. They just got infected with the broke mind virus psychosis.
Normal News:
Concerned and somewhat worried.
Mostly official-statement- and fact-driven. But that’s normal German news culture (at least compared to the US and if you stay away from the fringe tabloid style media).Social media:
I guess, that depends heavily on your bubble, as everywhere…
In the parts I am present in, it is source of constant amusement, as the events in the US and the views expressed by US people are just completely ridiculous to the more liberal part of Germany.
But this is probably different for the right wing bubbles, like that of AfD supporters.Not much is talked about USA nowadays unless it affects our country. So it’s been about tariffs and trade issues the last several weeks.
Australia: its seen as the world greatest reality TV show.
Some of the extremist mainstream media are trying to imitate us politics like sky news has a segment called “lefties losing it” but more if like a drama summary of a reality TV show.
The whole us system and its whole extremism is a joke here. Also we routinely joke about us school shooters and that its 3rd world country behaviour.
Asking how “social media” portrays the US is not very useful since social media is designed to show each individual user a view that’s tailored to them. And I haven’t watched the “regular” news in many years, haven’t had a TV or newspaper subscription in half a decade. So take this all with a huge grain of salt when it comes to the “general” view.
Here in Canada, the US has always been seen as a bully who talked a good game about economics and freedom but that didn’t measure up in reality. They were respected and admired for how big and strong they were, and we definitely absorbed a lot of American culture, but there’s always been an undercurrent of concern and resentment. Now, with the reelection of Trump and subsequent events, all of that has blown wide open. They’ve literally declared their intent to forcibly annex us, and had the gall to even say it would be for our own good. They have attacked us economically for reasons that are ludicrous on their face. Their social cohesion is collapsing, they’ve replaced their top officials with ideologues and cultists, they’re actively destroying any credibility they may have earned over the decades in pretty much every field. I don’t think most would go so far as to call them an adversary nation (as I would) but most no longer consider them an ally.
The official news still treads lightly on some of this, but Canada has no choice but to pay close attention. One look at the map makes it obvious why. I think a lot of us recognize that this is a crisis situation. We do have a fifth column of America-worshippers among us still, and that’s a major part of the problem, but overall Canadians seem pretty united on this.
I’m curious about where and how your cousin gets their information.
If it’s from Facebook and Fox News, I could see them not seeing ICE news, but it’d be hard to miss from any other source.
Not entirely sure where my cousin gets his information. He may be mostly getting it from social media. But it is possible that he still watches traditional news. Although, the traditional news in my home country reports about the US here and there. My mom still mostly watch news from our home country, but even she doesn’t know about the ICE arrests.
Yeah, as an american I am well aware of the ICE raids. It is weird your cousin doesnt know about it.
that staments doesn’t make sense, since presume their cousins just immigrated to the US.
My government news agency basically copies msnbc narrative for major stories, or smaller stories if there’s a link to EU.
