Chyna Beal
Chyna Beal
Politics in Your Passport: The Influence of American Conservative Ideology in Europe and How it Affects the Perception of Americans Abroad
Politics in Your Passport: The Influence of American Conservative Ideology in Europe and How it Affects the Perception of Americans Abroad
American policy has undergone abundant changes under the Trump administration as the rise of conservative ideology takes root and the world watches. Modifications impact countless countries, such as the U.S.-imposed economic sanctions, shifts in foreign policy in the Russia-Ukraine war and the withdrawal from international organizations, such as the Paris Climate Agreement and World Health Organization.
In his address to the United Nations General Assembly on Sept. 23, 2025, Donald Trump told European nations with open border policies, “Your countries are going to hell,” while applauding America's swift actions to shut down uncontrolled migration. These shifts have triggered diplomatic strain, causing European public perceptions of the U.S. to decline, while right-wing political perceptions have increasingly aligned since Trump's re-election.
Right-identifying political parties and leaders in countries such as Hungary, Spain and France held tributes in memory of American conservative podcaster Charlie Kirk while condemning the “violent left”. As European governments take a page out of America's book in a turn toward conservative ideology, the effects bleed into society and provoke disconnection.
According to a survey conducted in the European Union's eight largest countries, more than half of Europeans consider Trump an “enemy of Europe”. Recent polls additionally show 43% of Europeans believe that Trump has authoritarian tendencies, while 1 in 10 Europeans say he respects democratic principles. This data shows that European citizens are generally frustrated with the Trump administration's political culture, contrasting with the support expressed by dominant political parties in their countries toward American conservative principles.
As a global power, the U.S. exports more than policy; its politics ripple across the world, fueling international friction and shaping perceptions of Americans overseas.
“I think that people around the world feel bad for us. They think he’s funny but stupid at the same time. There was already a stereotype of Americans not being very knowledgeable, and I feel like this made it worse,” junior Chyna Beale said. "Also, interacting with people from different backgrounds when your president is actively saying he doesn’t like them can be a bit difficult because they don’t know if you share that same sentiment.”
Americans may be abroad, but they are never beyond American politics.
“I feel like the Trump administration has just made everybody abroad look down upon us, losing hope in the freedoms the United States is supposed to guarantee,”sophomore International Studies major Allana Holiday said.
During her study abroad trips to France, Holiday noticed locals commenting that Americans were disrespectful and assumed the world revolved around them.
“Which, honestly, is true,” Holiday said.“We were rudely late to things, walked very slowly like everybody should wait on us, and none of us honestly took the time to learn the language and just kind of expected that somebody would know English.”
While American tendencies to be disrespectful abroad cannot be directly linked to conservative ideology, it presents a deeper cultural problem regarding respecting others' heritage within the U.S., Trump's “America First” and anti-immigration approach.
American politics cannot be left at the airport. The rise of conservative ideology in America and Europe is closely linked, reflected in right-wing political alignment at the expense of civil unrest in both regions. As Americans seek solace abroad, they are met with the repercussions of U.S. foreign policy and perceived as ignorant or automatically in support of the current presidential administration.
We cannot outrun the right.
American policy has undergone abundant changes under the Trump administration as the rise of conservative ideology takes root and the world watches. Modifications impact countless countries, such as the U.S.-imposed economic sanctions, shifts in foreign policy in the Russia-Ukraine war and the withdrawal from international organizations, such as the Paris Climate Agreement and World Health Organization.
In his address to the United Nations General Assembly on Sept. 23, 2025, Donald Trump told European nations with open border policies, “Your countries are going to hell,” while applauding America's swift actions to shut down uncontrolled migration. These shifts have triggered diplomatic strain, causing European public perceptions of the U.S. to decline, while right-wing political perceptions have increasingly aligned since Trump's re-election.
Right-identifying political parties and leaders in countries such as Hungary, Spain and France held tributes in memory of American conservative podcaster Charlie Kirk while condemning the “violent left”. As European governments take a page out of America's book in a turn toward conservative ideology, the effects bleed into society and provoke disconnection.
According to a survey conducted in the European Union's eight largest countries, more than half of Europeans consider Trump an “enemy of Europe”. Recent polls additionally show 43% of Europeans believe that Trump has authoritarian tendencies, while 1 in 10 Europeans say he respects democratic principles. This data shows that European citizens are generally frustrated with the Trump administration's political culture, contrasting with the support expressed by dominant political parties in their countries toward American conservative principles.
As a global power, the U.S. exports more than policy; its politics ripple across the world, fueling international friction and shaping perceptions of Americans overseas.
“I think that people around the world feel bad for us. They think he’s funny but stupid at the same time. There was already a stereotype of Americans not being very knowledgeable, and I feel like this made it worse,” junior Chyna Beale said. "Also, interacting with people from different backgrounds when your president is actively saying he doesn’t like them can be a bit difficult because they don’t know if you share that same sentiment.”
Americans may be abroad, but they are never beyond American politics.
“I feel like the Trump administration has just made everybody abroad look down upon us, losing hope in the freedoms the United States is supposed to guarantee,”sophomore International Studies major Allana Holiday said.
During her study abroad trips to France, Holiday noticed locals commenting that Americans were disrespectful and assumed the world revolved around them.
“Which, honestly, is true,” Holiday said.“We were rudely late to things, walked very slowly like everybody should wait on us, and none of us honestly took the time to learn the language and just kind of expected that somebody would know English.”
While American tendencies to be disrespectful abroad cannot be directly linked to conservative ideology, it presents a deeper cultural problem regarding respecting others' heritage within the U.S., Trump's “America First” and anti-immigration approach.
American politics cannot be left at the airport. The rise of conservative ideology in America and Europe is closely linked, reflected in right-wing political alignment at the expense of civil unrest in both regions. As Americans seek solace abroad, they are met with the repercussions of U.S. foreign policy and perceived as ignorant or automatically in support of the current presidential administration.
We cannot outrun the right.