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.
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.