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Living abroad as an American has given me a unique insight into President Trump’s pronouncements regarding NATO partners. There is a long-standing anti-American sentiment among some American allies. The United States would stand by its allies in a crisis. We also must recognize the need to underscore America’s indispensable role to them. My comprehension of Trump’s rhetoric stems from firsthand observation of some allies’ surprising disregard toward the United States. My relocation to Canada shattered my idyllic preconceptions. I was profoundly dismayed by the intense anti-American sentiment prevalent among many Canadians—a level of hostility that left me utterly astonished.
I’m giving my perspective on this matter. After arriving in Canada with warm feelings about our cousins in the North, I encountered a chillingly different reception. My Canadian sojourn revealed a simmering anti-American sentiment. I discovered open disdain, a blatant rejection of most things American. Whenever I romanticized something about the United States, I faced immediate backlash. Don’t even talk about September 11. This animosity wasn’t subtle. They display it aggressively and boldly. Canadian corporations, for instance, shamelessly rebranded American automotive giants like GMC and Ford as domestic products, effectively erasing the American origins of those commodities.
Even the sporting arena became a battleground, where matches between Canadian and American teams were treated not as friendly competitions but as fiercely contested proxy wars fueled by a palpable nationalistic fervor. The fervent cheering left no doubt as to the depth of this animosity. Even the musical landscape reflects this rivalry. Canadian artists seemingly driven by a competitive urge to eclipse their American counterparts. The obliviousness of U.S. officials to this antagonism (in the North) was striking, mirroring my naiveté before witnessing it firsthand. My American identity became a liability. Expressing pro-American views often resulted in silencing, a testament to the prevailing climate of opinion.
I saw this from 2006 onward—2009, 2011, 2016 (throughout my stay), and beyond. That led me to dive into the economic interdependence of the United States and Canada. My research revealed a startling truth. The United States economy is a crucial life-support system that costs hundreds of billions to US taxpayers annually. That’s to subsidize our northern neighbor. The United States military also provides a security umbrella while serving as Canada’s foremost commercial partner. These are just two facets of our profound contribution. One would think the Canadians would cherish Americans. Yet, while residing there, a chilling paradox gnawed at me: the simmering anti-American sentiment.
I encountered expressions of animosity so visceral that I suspected many allies would secretly welcome American defeat in conflict or our nation’s downfall. However, this antipathy wasn’t confined to Canada alone. After a decade, my travels took me to Europe, where similar undercurrents, though perhaps more nuanced, continued to surface. Refreshingly, my experience in the United Kingdom contrasted with that of Canada. London offered a welcome respite, a counterpoint to the anti-American sentiment I’d encountered in North America. The mutual esteem and admiration I witnessed in Britain was pleasing. After years in Canada, their respectful atmosphere was invigorating, a refreshing change.
While Canadians initially projected an image of placid civility, my prolonged residency there revealed a less amiable undercurrent—an unforgiving disposition often masked by politeness. This was evident even during a brief trip to Alberta, where an encounter with a seemingly friendly young lady hinted at a more complex reality. In 2010, she piloted a mid-nineties Ford Expedition. Our pleasant hangout took an unexpected turn for the worst when I casually suggested visiting my US residence. My innocent invitation to experience the United States, a nation I hold dear, my home, was met with a malicious retort. Her immediate hostility and abrupt departure left me stunned. I realized how much we’re disliked.
I had intended a simple act of generosity, a gesture of friendship, yet my well-meaning offer was cruelly misinterpreted. This contrast was jarring. My experiences in England had been vastly different. There, I encountered genuine curiosity and warm appreciation for American culture, sparking engaging conversations about the United States. I saw a difference. A similar, unexpected wave of antipathy washed over me during my subsequent trip to France. Despite my initial enchantment with Paris, a sense of disillusionment settled upon me as I witnessed firsthand the palpable disdain certain Parisians harbored for the States. My friendly attitude toward these nations was challenged during my travels.
A disheartening wave of anti-American sentiment washed over me in France, where casual, even flippant, disparagement of the United States seemed ingrained in their national character. In Brussels, the subtle yet persistent criticisms of American exceptionalism were equally jarring. Conversations frequently veered toward uncomfortable truths: the tragic police killings of Blacks, the glaring absence of universal healthcare, mass shootings, the crippling burden of student loan debt, crime, and their perception of the U.S. government as both a hegemon and a hypocrite. My experience in Germany was even more striking. A peculiar, almost defensive, avoidance of acknowledging American identity emerged.
The Germans insisted on knowing my birthplace, which felt like a point of rejection of my nationality. I’ve encountered an anti-American sentiment among many Germans, a bias seemingly fueled by the knowledge that a significant portion of US citizens are naturalized. Instead of accepting my US passport, many routinely demand my birthplace, effectively diminishing my American identity in their eyes. (I am also a proud African, by the way.) I observed in Germany that a Nigerian who is a naturalized US citizen is only a Nigerian (scammer) in the eyes of the Germans, for example. If you were born in Brazil and you produce an American passport, many Germans would prefer to consider you a Brazilian.
Maybe it’s just me, an international ugly duckling. Patriotic American observances, such as Independence Day, the Super Bowl, and Thanksgiving, often elicit scorn or open indifference. Extending an invitation instantly loses the “friend.” While this isn’t a universal attitude, my experiences suggest it’s regrettably prevalent. I have seen American expats behaving as if they were immigrants. This psychological bullying is particularly striking, given the substantial financial contributions the US makes to these nations’ well-being. My research reveals billions of dollars in annual trade—a figure escalating into the trillions when considering the collective support provided to ALL forty-four countries of Europe alone.
This massive economic investment underpins their security and economic prosperity, making their animosity all the more perplexing. The United States of America has fostered a collaborative technological and commercial relationship with all its NATO allies, treating them as equal partners. However, an asymmetry exists in US perception. Do you know that the EU does not even honor its Reciprocal Driving agreements with the US? When American citizens move to Europe, domestic regulations circumvent this agreement entirely. The allies sign treaties with our government and then fail to hold up their end of the deal. While Americans generally hold these allies highly, reciprocation is conspicuously absent.
In France, for instance, negativity colors the view of American society, ranging from culinary preferences to cultural norms, even extending to the very military safeguarding their interests. This fundamental imbalance explains, at least in part, President Trump’s assertive foreign policy. I am NOT in support of Donald Trump’s mass deportation of law-abiding, tax-paying undocumented migrants. But his willingness to challenge the allied nations’ complacency is commendable. He rightly demands a more equitable exchange. If these countries neither value nor respect the United States contribution, and their nationals treat American citizens disrespectfully, they must shoulder ALL responsibility for themselves.
