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As an American living in the UK, I can confidently say that the British view of the United States, like any perception of a foreign country, is generally a bit skewed. For example, Brits don’t realise how big the US actually is. I thoroughly enjoy dumbfounding people with the knowledge that the entirety of England, Scotland, and Wales could fit into the state of California three times. Other misconceptions and assumptions around our daily life are very common, like the idea that we all drive massive cars or pickup trucks and eat fast food every day. I regret to inform the reader that those are, for the most part, false. The British perception of American culture is obviously going to be exaggerated, and some key features will be missed because of how it’s portrayed in the media.
However, in light of the recent election, I’ve noticed that the occasionally incorrect British perception of the states extends to politics as well. I wouldn’t expect your average Exeter Uni student to know much about US politics, let alone care. What I expected even less were some of the bizarre and out-of-place opinions I heard in the weeks leading up to the election; I’ve been approached by more Trump supporters in England than I have in my hometown. It’s clear to me that the influx of misinformation surrounding Donald Trump’s political campaign reached the UK by way of social media, making certain peers of mine feel as though they knew more about the state of American politics than I, an American. Regardless of my opinion on the past/future president, I find it fascinating and rather scary that certain UK residents were not only confident but also incredibly passionate about the US election, often with little reasoning.
I’ve been asked the question, “Who are you voting for?” more times than I can count, almost always by men and usually followed by an opinion from the individual inquiring. I was shocked to find that the majority I spoke to would cast their vote for Trump if they could, with their reasoning being “he’s a cool guy” or “Kamala doesn’t know what she’s doing.” To my frustration, their interest almost always faded once I started discussing any real policies or issues. I found this discouraging but, considering none of the people I spoke to actually live in the US, they have the luxury of not having to care about a candidate’s actual policies. They can simply form an opinion based on vibes because for them it’s nothing more than a conversation starter.
My only explanation for why they would care at all in the first place would be social media. TikToks featuring both candidates, though lacking in political substance, were very popular during the heat of the campaign trail. While scrolling, it isn’t uncommon to see edits of the assassination attempt on Donald Trump in July, set to the 50 cent song “Many Men” (yes, this is a real thing). Videos featuring Trump and popular influencers were also not unusual, with the likes of the Paul brothers and other controversial figures voicing their support through TikTok in an attempt to appeal to young male voters. These kinds of videos paint the former president as a relatable, charismatic man of the people: a populist. They conveniently leave out any mention of what he plans to do once in office, painting a very alluring picture for those who know very little about American politics and still feel the need to have an opinion on the matter, a.k.a, the young men of the UK.
I can understand how people think “he’s a cool guy” if their only representation of him is from a TikTok where there’s no mention of the threat of mass deportation, the destruction of the Gender Equality Act, and severe restrictions on access to abortion and hormonal contraception, among other proposed policies. A meme set to a popular song might distract from his lack of economic strategy and proposed tax cuts for the top 5%, a massive hindrance to the lower and middle classes. An endorsement from a favourite influencer might even make you forget, or at the very least ignore, that he’s been found liable for sexual abuse, convicted for paying off a pornstar to avoid a sex scandal, and is still awaiting trial for the attempt to overturn election results and promoting an attack on the nation’s capitol. The warped British perception of the 2024 election shows just how powerful social media can be. Simple videos and endorsements can give people strong opinions about a President they’ll never vote for in a country they don’t even live in. For many in the UK, this election was nothing more than a conversation topic, while for millions of Americans, it was devastating and will have lasting consequences on their lives. This is all a profound example of what happens when opinions can be formed without accountability, and the danger of misinformation online.
Image: Flag USA Citizen, Larry White, 2020// Content License
Wow!
Great article
Interesting and topical, excellent article.
yeah that’s pretty accurate
#basic