During a political rally in France, politician Raphaël Glucksmann joked about wanting the U.S. to return the Statue of Liberty, gifted by France in 1884. Glucksmann suggested that the statue symbolizes values that the U.S. no longer upholds under President Trump. The White House rejected the idea of returning the monument, but Glucksmann’s remarks highlight concerns among Europeans about recent U.S. policies and rhetoric.
There has been a decline in foreign traveler arrivals to the U.S. due to fears about tightened border policies and visa restrictions by the Trump administration. Incidents of travelers, including a French scientist and German tourists, facing harsh treatment at the U.S. border have sparked unease in foreign countries, leading to updated travel advisories. Some people, like English entrepreneur Sheldon Miller, are reconsidering their admiration for the U.S. due to recent developments under Trump’s leadership.
Staffan Lindberg from the V-Dem Institute observed a feeling of fear among Americans, including academics who fear openly expressing dissenting views in public. This reflects concerns about the erosion of democratic values in the U.S. under Trump. Lindberg’s experience, along with other incidents, has contributed to a reassessment of the U.S. as a beacon of freedom and democracy.
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