"What The Honest F**k Is Wrong With You People?!" 27 Non-Americans Get Brutally Honest About Trump, The Election, And The State Of US Politics Right Now
I asked BuzzFeed readers who live outside the US to share their raw, unfiltered thoughts on the election, Trump, and the state of American politics right now. Hundreds of people shared their perspectives, and it's truly eye-opening about how the rest of the world views us. Here's what 27 non-Americans had to say, and — my fellow Americans — I think we really need to listen up:
1."I'm Dutch. Watching the US right now suddenly makes me feel like our current government is doing a great job."
2."Being in Canada, it’s really scary. I’ve always thought of the US as a world leader, so I’m terrified as a woman that decisions being made there about women’s bodies will be mirrored up here by our government."
3."I had more faith in people. I can’t believe Americans voted for a convicted criminal rather than for a woman. I'm also shocked by how little my friends who voted for Trump actually knew about him."
4."I'm from The Netherlands, but I follow US politics quite closely. All the post-election discourse is driving me up the wall. She didn't lose because she didn't go on Rogan or because of the anti-trans ad the Trump campaign ran. No one is pointing out the one and only simple reason (in my opinion): Most of the US electorate is painfully, incredibly, annoyingly stupid. Just very, very dumb. I genuinely feel bad for the minority, but most of you are getting exactly the leader you deserve."
5."Canadian here. I am incredulous that Americans would choose a convicted felon, serial sexual offender, and con man to represent them on the international stage. Do you seriously not realize how other world leaders view Trump?! He is a laughingstock and a joke — maybe a showman, but not a smart man. I seriously doubt that he has ever even read a book, including the Bible that he shills. I am equally incredulous that Americans would choose to sacrifice women’s reproductive health and freedom so that they can maybe save money on eggs and gas, which, of course, is not going to happen. What the honest f**k is wrong with you people?!"
6."I was having coffee with my colleagues, watching the election news. We are in France. One of my colleagues said that watching America at the moment is like watching a really bad reality show with such ridiculous storylines that you can’t help but laugh at how scripted it feels. So you just sit there, nervously eating popcorn. Nervously, because you know it isn’t scripted. I’ve never felt more supported and seen as a woman than during this time, with so many male colleagues in disbelief at how a majority of voting Americans chose to squash women’s rights (as well as many other things. The day after the election, I had perhaps 30 colleagues come to see me in my office to see if I was okay (I’m half- American)."
7."As a Welshman who grew up in Australia, I’ve experienced life in several Western countries. I spent nearly 10 years in the US (Hawaii and Ohio), building businesses, getting married, and forming lifelong friendships. I love the US and its people — kind, warm, and open at their best. But living there, I saw a nation increasingly divided and angry, with so many struggling just to get by. Public infrastructure is crumbling, healthcare costs are crippling, and countless people work multiple jobs, not to thrive but to survive. Even something as simple as taking time off feels like a luxury most can’t afford."
"Americans are proud of their freedoms, but the real power and opportunity often seem reserved for the wealthy. The anger in the country is justified, yet it’s being manipulated — stoked by media, politics, and a system that profits from division.America is a place of extraordinary potential, filled with remarkable people. But I can’t see these divisions healing, only getting worse."
8."I’m from the States originally, but have lived in Scandinavia for long enough to also have Scandinavian citizenship. Most everyone I’ve spoken to over here is shaken, asking what this means for Ukraine? NATO? Climate change? Is Europe going to have to go at it alone? Interestingly, most of the Scandinavian men I’ve spoken to were surprised to find out the US is so misogynistic that they voted for a fascist over a Black woman. I believe Scandinavia has had equality of the sexes for a long time now."
"Everyone here also feels fortunate to live in one of the healthiest democracies in the world. Discussions bend towards how much we’re all willing to fight for it if Earth is about to slip into a new dark age. Most seem to feel the US is an oligarchy now. Most people also think Musk is totally mad for aiming towards Mars when there’s so much beauty on Earth worth protecting. Also, how lucky we are to be so far north when the disaster of climate change gets real-real in the coming years."
9."I'm French. Our politics are messy as well, but the USA is on another whole new level. I don't get how people can see Trump uttering such stupid, horrible things and say, 'Yeah, I'll vote for this guy to lead our country!' I mean, he made fun of a disabled journalist, told men to "grab women by the pussy", and said so, so many racist things. He can't debate and invents his own 'facts.' He's an awful clown!"
"Also, I don't understand why many American citizens think that Kamala Harris is a communist. If you compare them to French politics, she and President Joe Biden are still on the right wing. There's basically no left wing in American politics..."
10."I (female 62) and my contemporaries cannot understand how so many women in the US voted for Trump, given that he is a known misogynist. His language around women, their lives, and their usefulness should have been enough to see him cast into the political wilderness or prison! The US will regress under Trump."
11."Belgian here. This election result has me completely baffled. I am not living in the world that I thought I was living in. We're always saying that people have never been smarter, healthier, etc. But clearly, we are so, so very far from the educated society that I thought we were living in. The endless list of racist, misogynistic, and downright wild things this man has said...and people still voted for him? Let alone the fact that he is a CONVICTED FELON. It just made me wonder what type of media Americans are getting because it makes no sense. No one in their right mind would vote for someone like this."
"Don't get me wrong — it's not like I'm a huge fan of Harris. In my opinion, all political parties are self-serving, but the fact that that man was able to run at all is just...how? Then I am reminded that about 70% of Americans believe in angels, and 10% believe in conspiracy theories like flat earth, NASA faking the moon landing, etc. It just highlights the huge problem the USA has with education."
12."Trump was elected twice, and the second time he got the popular vote. He didn't trick anyone, the election wasn't rigged. He is what Americans are and what they want. I don't want to hear how 'He isn't [a reflection of] your country' or how 'He doesn't represent you.' Yes, he does."
13."I am a Canadian, and I like Canada, but I LOVE the land of the free and the home of the brave. In my humble opinion, I suggest that Americans stop looking in the mirror and asking: 'Does this make me look fat?' and instead throw back their shoulders, puff out their chest, raise their heads high, and walk into the room as if you own it – because you actually do. Yours is the richest and most beautiful country in the world. Resplendent with mountains and seas, rivers, lakes and forests, quaint towns and magnificent cities. The strongest military, and signs of prosperity everywhere. Oh, and most of all, the best people. In business dealings, I have found Americans to be tough but fair and, above all, honorable. In personal matters, you are kind, generous, sincere, and — above all — honest. America, you’re simply the best."
"In terms of political matters, it is confusing to observe your so-called 'best' candidates flounder under the spotlight. How did it happen that a senile old man became President? How was it possible that his successor turned out to be a giggling, babbling fool? I suspect that this had something to do with Trump’s success. He was literally the lesser of two evils, especially on the world stage. My preference would be to NOT send the giggling, laughing Kamala into meetings with world leaders. At least Trump carries himself with an arrogance that befits the leader of the most powerful nation on earth. Stop second-guessing yourself. God Bless America!"
14."You know the old saying, 'Comedy is tragedy plus time?' I'm just hoping the world lives long enough to laugh about it. As a Canadian, I think there's a chance that America will straighten itself out enough that I'll be in my 80s, thinking back on this period of history with a chuckle of disbelief. I think there's a much greater chance that I personally outlive the United States of America as a nation."
15."I live in Scandinavia. What scares me the most is living next to Russia, and the weird friendship Trump seems to have with Putin. I don't want to die. I don't want my children to die. Trump was the worst thing that could happen to Europe's security and the global economy right now. I never thought war would be an actual, very real fear of mine. Trump also has no skills in the political field whatsoever, and I don't think he's even interested in it. His goal is to make money for himself and his inner circle. He's a criminal and a sex offender will set back women's rights about 100 years, not to mention their lives and reproductive health. And you voted for him?!"
16."A Belgian here. I just read an article in the Belgian press that Trump will no longer be prosecuted for his attempts to overturn the election results four years ago. How is that possible? We all have eyes! We SAW what he did! We HEARD the tapes of the phone calls he made. We WATCHED what happened at the Capitol. People died there. I cannot believe what makes people vote for someone like that and how he gets away with everything. It makes me sick to my stomach."
17."We grew up seeing the American lifestyle on TV and in the movies that glorified it. Several people in my grade went to the US for a high school year. Now, TikTok has shown me what a nasty toilet America really is. No universal health care, harmful food ingredients, raging gun violence, no maternity protection...and now this concerning regression into Republicanism..."
18."I feel as if many voters treat [elections] as a popularity contest. As if they were voting for their favorite sports team instead of a political party. They are doing that without even knowing the scores or how good the sports team actually is. Did they win a debate? Hooray. Did they lose a debate? Oh no, my team is great, the others must have cheated! I just think the political education is really lacking in the US. It's sad to see a person who literally did so much wrong rise to power again. Where is the Cancel Culture when you need it?"
19."I’m, of course, highly concerned. I think that most of what’s been discussed online about a potential second term for Trump could possibly happen. At the same time, though, you could see Trump’s victory coming from miles and months away. The message that Trump is more responsible for Biden’s economy clearly isn’t something that got through to people. This is because Trump has spent nearly a decade preparing them to miss the subtleties and vote on what they experienced under Biden, which wasn’t nearly as bad as Trump made it out to be."
"A large part of this is that the Democratic Party didn’t focus on the economy enough. Had they really focused on the deleterious potential effects of Trump’s economic plan, I think that Harris would have won. Instead, her campaign focused on Trump’s threat to democracy. That is an egregious error on the Democratic Party’s part. Her campaign should have known that the most important issue to the American people is the economy, as it has been for decades."
20."I cannot say I'm shocked at how dumb Americans are. They actually fell for the propaganda they heard. Basically, they got what they deserved. Just leave the rest of the world out of it."
21."Honestly, I’m still in denial. It really feels like Trump thought, 'Let’s run with the most irrational, destructive, and anti-democratic ideas and see how it goes,'… and he won. And this time, he won fair and square! I’m sorry, but l thank the higher powers of the universe every day for not being American. You’re digging your own grave, and you asked for it!"
22."Much of world politics were guided and influenced by the commonly held belief that the USA and its allies would do what they said they would do in the face of genocidal and warmongering threats against the world. We now know that's not true. Russia has done what it has, and the USA has done nothing. Israel has done what it has, and the USA has done nothing. China has done what it has, and the USA has done nothing. I'm exaggerating for effect, but the USA has proven it is not the stabilizing force it projects to be. It has proven it is corruptible. It has proven that its democracy is for sale. Global stability is facing an enormous challenge."
23."Watching from north of the border, it’s scary! Our economies are so closely intertwined that I know we will be impacted. We will not be returning to the US any time soon. History tells us that every great empire eventually crumbles…all we can do is watch and pray that we do better when our turn comes to vote!"
24."I feel bad for a lot of Americans. Hopefully, this is the reality check they need, but I'm just trying to tune it all out now."
25."As someone who is interested in international politics, I followed the US elections quite closely. I wanted Harris to win for many reasons, especially when it comes to women's rights. With a new government in Mauritius, I really hope that the relations between our two countries get better, as the past government wasn't investing much in the trade between the countries. We have many reserves on how the US President will handle the Chagos case and the deal secured by the last government."
26."From a societal perspective, it is mind-boggling that someone who was found responsible for a sexual assault has gotten anywhere near the White House and that people are willing to believe his demonstrably false statements. From a political perspective, it is equally mind-boggling that he was elected seemingly because of the state of the economy, despite the fact that he does not seem to have any semblance of a plan to actually address these economic issues."
27.Lastly, "It’s like driving past an accident. You feel bad, but you still slow down and gawk."
Are you a non-American with a take on the election, Trump, or US politics in general right now? We'd love to hear your thoughts in the comments below.
Note: Submissions have been edited for length, clarity, and factual accuracy.
