Would you travel to the USA?

[Ineedcoffeenow]

Setting aside disagreement with Trump’s politics, would you travel to the USA this week (specifically NYC and Washington DC)? My concern lies with the risk of terrorism.

My two young people are Autistic & would be scared to go (watching the news). I'd like to see America & but not whilst the current 'regime' is in charge, using private companies to check folks (those 'folks' are more likely to be those who 'look odd' (my yp) or PoC, women, or anyone else not white & male imo). Yes, there is a higher chance of terrorist attacks now. You're chance of being caught up in that is almost zero, but not actually zero. However, OP if you need to work there (& are tagging on a short holiday) & it's all booked up I guess you go?

Nope.

It’s not even cheap anymore…. There’s a whole world out there. I’m sure we can all find other countries to widen our horizons should we want

Hell the fuck no, but not based on the risk of terrorism which I agree isn’t probably different to the UK.

More around the political situation and the general actions and feelings in the country now. Unfortunately there is a romanticised view of the US and real naïveté around what is going on. Yeah it depends where you go but with so many other places to visit why would you go there now?

And for the haters, yeah I do know what I’m talking about. I’m NA and my parent live half the year there. Holidays are very very different to living though.

Probably wouldn’t book right now but would go if I had booked.

Totally agree. I travelled there (to visit close family when Bush was president and it was fine. This has nothing to do with republicans or democrats (and my family are in thr Deep South).

It's optional. We had visa applications accepted immediately and didn't supply social media handles. It isn't mandatory to give this.

To clarify why I’ve said no:

1. we have ruled out travel to USA while Trump is in power. There are lots of lovely places to visit in the world, and I will choose to spend my money in one of the others for now.
2. I have made a number of comments on social media about my views, and would be wary of the impact of that.
3. I’m not particularly concerned about the terrorism risk associated with flying, but would be wary of the risk in crowded places at the moment. I think the risk of that if you were working in Nebraska would be low, but the risk of issues visiting a tourist attraction in NY would be higher.
4. mainly (1) though.

So the FT is reporting European travellers ‘has fallen sharply under President Trump’ and have fallen ‘by more than 20%”. But hey thats just the FT….please do share the stats you have on saying it hasn’t in case I have missed something.

No. I've an Arab ethnic surname. No way.

Absolutely not. Millions of Americans voted for Trump and they knew exactly what they were getting - I can spend my money in many other countries.

So the updated advice from the UK government abiut a week ago issuing urgent advice and a travel warning for anyone travelling to the US doesn’t count?

What @WeirdyBeardyMarrowBabyLady and @MandarinsAreNotTheOnlyFruit said. If I’d booked I would still go. But we’d planned a month in the US next year for dp’s 60th because we both love the US so much, and we’re going elsewhere. I love the States, love the people, but also had a naive adoration for the shining city on the hill and the rule of law and the Republic and the Constitution, and right now I just feel no desire to be where Trump is shitting all over that. I do believe that one day Americans will just have had enough of him, and I suppose I can see the point of literally everyone in the country being better than the president, but I don’t have to watch it close up.

@Itallcomesdowntothis If you are stupid enough to get involved with marches and protests, you know what the outcome might be - anywhere in the world! Little evidence of that in most places and clearly aimed at people who might go to protest. Why would that advice stop you going to Montana or Maine?

Wow, pretty damning!

Nope

Our thoughts - why would we spend our CAN$ in the US when we can get better products on the right side of the border

@SirChenjins Hsving talked to quite a few Americans in America in the last few weeks, your notion that they knew what was coming isn’t true. Admittedly they were Democrats but all had Republican friends who had voted for Trump. We were told these people had not expected the whirlwind of legislation or the outcomes of it. They wished they hadn’t voted for him.

Some of his policies were telegraphed but others have been a total shock to Americans. The fact that Congress isn’t challenging him worries them greatly. The sheer volume of not thought through policies is a worry. Many even worried about upsetting us and how the USA is viewed from abroad. Some MAGA people will stick to Trump being great but others are deeply worried and believe they are unkind and dysfunctional. The big take away is that Trump has gone much further than they thought and the checks and balances are no longer operating. We, here, rely on the Supreme Court to uphold the law. Their Supreme Court is politically appointed.

Instead of railing against Trump, I would point out that millions of Americans didn’t vote for him and don’t support him. The Brits are not worth much to the USA though. If the Chinese stay away ….. different story.

Not sure if this is naivety or just a case of "I'm alright Jack, so sod the rest", but it's not how I work.

I'm aware of a Scientific conference that takes turns to be hosted - one year in different parts of US and then the next in different countries in Europe. Next one ought to have been in the US but they have made the decision not to hold it there, not because the organisers wouldn't "be fine" but because many of the delegates don't fit Trump's idea of what an acceptable race is.

I'm glad some people stand by others being affected, even if you won't.

Not naive but your comments on delegates don’t affect those of us on holiday.

We visited recently and booked a year ago, Not going to change that. Holidaymakers are not delegates or going for work on a jolly. We in the uk do go with an esta because we are going on holiday. No Im not protesting about what others cannot do because of their situations. They can do that without me and don’t tell me where’s I should go! I had a holiday booked and partially paid for so we went. I’m not coming out in solidarity with others who are going for completely different reasons. You make your choices but don’t conflate holidays and work.

This is a HOLIDAY board. Not a work board. So holidays are not affected unless you have something in your background that’s ? I don’t. Millions don’t. Boycotting feels very childish in this day and age of global interaction.

Yeah it’s a good point as it’s a big country but the majority of people aren’t going to Montana are they? They are mostly likely going to big cities unless visiting family. But you still have to go through an airport which are in major places .

They may if your Esta gets denied. And yeah it is happening to those who are travelling for holidays.

Not at all naive to boycott and stand up to those who are putting in place harmful tariffs. The US has been hurt to the tune of billions so it does work.

What is naive is to think you can operate in isolation on holiday and then quote the age of global interaction.

Why ? American and United are just as good as BA and Virgin nowadays. Delta - definitely not

Purely on the basis of what I believe, having lived there, re poorer security on US airlines.

I wouldn't be as worried about terrorism as I would about being detained because border agents may find evidence of how much I hate Trump on my phone.

Also, I'm Canadian and I won't step foot in the place as long as Trump is president because of his 51st state comments