To not want to go to USA?

[DalekStarmer]

DH and I used to go to the states every year on holiday. Different places each time - we loved it. This stopped during Covid when our holiday to Montana was cancelled. After Covid we planned to go back but ended up cancelling due to various things. Anyway, DH is keen to get back to our US trips and wanted to go last year. I said I didn’t fancy it due to Trump and the new hostile attitude towards foreigners. I said I’d consider it this year … now I’m even less in favour of it. It just doesn’t feel safe at all. DH is disappointed. AIBU?

JD Vance will definitely be worse in some ways, but he’ll also be much more vulnerable as he doesn’t have the inexplicable charisma that Trump allegedly projects.

Oh come on, Trump is a picture of health and a mere whippersnapper compared to Biden. Mad as a bag of frogs but you can’t have everything. 😜

I keep thinking this must be his new comeback series of the US Apprentice and it’s going to have episodes/tasks like “Invade Greenland” and “Abduct the Premier of a South American Country” with Piers Morgan as one of his advisors judging the contestants.

I wouldn’t go there if you paid me. This isn’t performative, I thought it when he got in the first time and I think it again now.
If he doesn’t extend his second term indefinitely, I’ll be very pleasantly surprised. I’m clinging on to the fact that everyone has a finite lifespan.

The us is safe and loads of people visit everyday. If you don't want to go its really not going to bother them as your money is a tiny fraction of what they make from tourism anyways.

Agreed - I keep getting "Visit the USA" "America the beautiful" ads on here (probably from reading the threads about ICE brutality) and thinking, who are they kidding?!

I love the US but I’m not going whilst this administration is in power. It sends the wrong message. Nobody should support a fascist dictatorship bent on destroying the world order (which is what they are fast becoming)

I'm not going, just like I refuse to visit the U.A.E. and other countries with similar regimes I disagree with. I don't think its performative, just personal choice. My dh is always suggesting Dubai as a holiday destination and I keep explaining why myself and my children won't be travelling there.

I’m not sure OP. Trump is a maniac, but at the end of the day you would be going to see America, not Trump. That said, he seems somewhat unpredictable, and I would be careful about social media posts.

Do you have contacts over there who you could ask?

I don’t want to leave any of my hard earned money in US while the current regime is in place. I have friends there and opportunities for work trips there, so this is not just a hypothetical thought from me.

Is it safe, yes most likely. But you do have a greater chance of witnessing ICE brutality. It is happening everywhere, no city is exempt. And it is happening at shopping malls, restaurants, car parks, streets, schools…

For a big holiday I would choose Canada, Japan or New Zealand and there is so much more of Europe that I would love to explore. Vietnam, Thailand, Australia, Iceland, China also very interesting to me. I’m sure you can think of other equally appealing countries for you.

What is it that you both love so much about the US, and what other countries provide it?
Is it great road trips and scenery, is it cool cities, etc….
If it happens to be Florida and Theme parks, seek those out in other countries, especially Asia.

Don't go. Make a stand by spending your money elsewhere.

A dreadful thing happened to a work colleague’s friend even under George W Bush’s administration - he went on holiday there with his girlfriend just after 9/11 and looked a bit alternative with long hair and tattoos. I think he also had olive skin. They was seized by guards at the airport and detained for hours before being sent back to the UK. The experience contributed to a nervous breakdown a few weeks later.

Oh that sounds awful, I hope he recovered okay.

I've been there a few times under Trump's administrations and it's been great. But then again, I'm more aligned with Republicans than Democrats.

On holiday? The political administrations of the past have influenced your holiday?

I think these current Republicans are rather more special. But perhaps that’s your bag.

Calm down love!

Hi OP, I’m still going this year. I’ve got family there and as much as I hate Trump and everything he stands for, I’m not going for him, I’m going for my family.

I couldn’t live in the U.K. if I got my knickers in a twist about politics all the time. I’m all for principles, but they have to be workable.

I’m in the US right now and immigration were so welcoming in both miami airport and LA cruise port. I was surprised and what little hassle I had. Although being a white middle aged woman probably helps.

Totally understand not wanting to go, there are places I wont visit.