This was written during Trump's previous period as POTUS, and I think it sums up, eloquently, just what it is that Brits ( and presumably other nationalities) dislike about him. It is worth a read.
Nate White
“Why do some British people not like Donald Trump?” Nate White, an articulate and witty writer from England wrote the following response:
A few things spring to mind. Trump lacks certain qualities which the British traditionally esteem. For instance, he has no class, no charm, no coolness, no credibility, no compassion, no wit, no warmth, no wisdom, no subtlety, no sensitivity, no self-awareness, no humility, no honour and no grace – all qualities, funnily enough, with which his predecessor Mr. Obama was generously blessed. So for us, the stark contrast does rather throw Trump’s limitations into embarrassingly sharp relief.
Plus, we like a laugh. And while Trump may be laughable, he has never once said anything wry, witty or even faintly amusing – not once, ever. I don’t say that rhetorically, I mean it quite literally: not once, not ever. And that fact is particularly disturbing to the British sensibility – for us, to lack humour is almost inhuman. But with Trump, it’s a fact. He doesn’t even seem to understand what a joke is – his idea of a joke is a crass comment, an illiterate insult, a casual act of cruelty.
Trump is a troll. And like all trolls, he is never funny and he never laughs; he only crows or jeers. And scarily, he doesn’t just talk in crude, witless insults – he actually thinks in them. His mind is a simple bot-like algorithm of petty prejudices and knee-jerk nastiness.
There is never any under-layer of irony, complexity, nuance or depth. It’s all surface. Some Americans might see this as refreshingly upfront. Well, we don’t. We see it as having no inner world, no soul. And in Britain we traditionally side with David, not Goliath. All our heroes are plucky underdogs: Robin Hood, Dick Whittington, Oliver Twist. Trump is neither plucky, nor an underdog. He is the exact opposite of that. He’s not even a spoiled rich-boy, or a greedy fat-cat. He’s more a fat white slug. A Jabba the Hutt of privilege.
And worse, he is that most unforgivable of all things to the British: a bully. That is, except when he is among bullies; then he suddenly transforms into a snivelling sidekick instead. There are unspoken rules to this stuff – the Queensberry rules of basic decency – and he breaks them all. He punches downwards – which a gentleman should, would, could never do – and every blow he aims is below the belt. He particularly likes to kick the vulnerable or voiceless – and he kicks them when they are down.
So the fact that a significant minority – perhaps a third – of Americans look at what he does, listen to what he says, and then think ‘Yeah, he seems like my kind of guy’ is a matter of some confusion and no little distress to British people, given that:
• Americans are supposed to be nicer than us, and mostly are.
• You don’t need a particularly keen eye for detail to spot a few flaws in the man.
This last point is what especially confuses and dismays British people, and many other people too; his faults seem pretty bloody hard to miss. After all, it’s impossible to read a single tweet, or hear him speak a sentence or two, without staring deep into the abyss. He turns being artless into an art form; he is a Picasso of pettiness; a Shakespeare of shit. His faults are fractal: even his flaws have flaws, and so on ad infinitum. God knows there have always been stupid people in the world, and plenty of nasty people too. But rarely has stupidity been so nasty, or nastiness so stupid. He makes Nixon look trustworthy and George W look smart. In fact, if Frankenstein decided to make a monster assembled entirely from human flaws – he would make a Trump.
And a remorseful Doctor Frankenstein would clutch out big clumpfuls of hair and scream in anguish: ‘My God… what… have… I… created?' If being a twat was a TV show, Trump would be the boxed set.
#Donald Trump
Arto1s
Here we go again. Don’t you ever tire of Trump bashing?
Silly comment.
Trump is the newly elected president of a super-power which has a very long reach, so to simply sit on our hands and stay quiet is really not the way it works, there is a lot at risk, domestically in the US, and abroad, here as well as in Europe, and especially Ukraine.
So as long as Trump keeps behaving like a first class bully people will keep bashing him, because most people won't stand for it.
Nope. Trump is affecting the lives of millions of people across the world. If you don't understand this, Artols then I can only assume you don't follow the news. If you do understand it but disagree that he is creating instability and chaos to some of the most vulnerable people in the world, then come out and acknowledge it. Argue your case, stand up for your opinion but fgs don't just try to put people down who have taken the time to write proper posts based on what they know and think.
Here we go again. Don’t you ever tire of Trump bashing?
HousePlantQueen
I agree it is rather long, and I did hesitate about posting it, but I just think it sums Trump up perfectly. We never hear of his listening to music, or reading a book, or appreciating art, or having a pet, all the little things which make people what they are, the things that identify them as people, not just politicians.
This is spot on and actually not particularly long, but then I like to read things more than a sentence or two long occasionally.
* "you believe that if you want to".*
This is how he gets away with things isn't it, by creating a hazy reality built on lies. He's like an abuser gaslighting his victim whilst casting doubt on the truth so his supporters will believe his version of the story.
Entirely echo your comments.
Every time I hear him speak I feel sorry that it was only his ear that was affected. To think that anyone would choose such a person to be the president, says a lot and none of it good in my opinion. ~There have been leaders of countries before who think that they can walk into other peoples countries and who denigrate as many people as possible , putting their own evil and selfish wants before everyone else. Now who does Trump remind me of now. Oh yes I know - very like that Adolf Hitler. Well perhaps we might look back and think of the parallels , who knows some better ideas may occur to people.
Trump certainly knows how to bear a grudge. One particular act in his first few days was to bring back plastic straws! He must have stewed on that all through the Biden presidency whenever he had one of his copious diet colas and chose it as a priority act when he was elected. He is not a statesman, he is a bully.
Jockytaff
To Houseplant queen - good article but not sure most Americans are nicer than us - they voted the cretin in. I've just watched a clip where Macron had (very politely) to correct Trump about European funding to Ukraine. Trump's response was to smirk & say "you believe that if you want to".
I saw that! It was utterly cringeworthy and shows such a lack of class and understanding of how statesmen behave.
Good on Macron!
foxie48
IMO it's just as bad to stereotype women as rubbish as it is suggesting they should rule the world, although I suspect the comment about "ruling the world" was a bit tongue in cheek!
Most people on here seem to concur that Trump is basically a completely unsuitable person to be POTUS and tbh I think most of the people he has chosen to take the highest positions in state are also very unsuitable. The latest, Dan Bongino as deputy to Kash Patel, is beyond ridiculous. This man has spread completely unsubstantiated conspiracy stories about the FBI for years and now he's the second in command there. Honestly, it's beyond belief!
Trump is, as we know, completely transactional in his approach to everything and his politics is seemingly based on one theory, that of the "deal". You want something, I want something, let's haggle. the question is surely, can you run a country like that? I don't think you can, even if you had really smart, knowledgeable, experienced people around you to advise you. Trump doesn't though, does he? He is surrounded by Yes men, chosen for their looks (Cain!) and their loyalty, not for what they will bring to the table in terms of key skills and experience. This is a recipe for disaster on a monumental scale and IMO we will all pay a price for this folly.
Tongue in cheek, from me at least, about women taking over!
Agree completely with your Trump comments.
Well, without trans competitors, I'm not sure who will be at the starting blocks in women - only sporting events.
All of the other females, with increasingly limited access to contraception, will be busy having babies.
Maybe the White House is going to advocate celibacy.
Most importantly he has no sense of humour. Something I always look for in a person. If the answer is no, then byeeee.
Message deleted by Gransnet. Here's a link to our Talk guidelines.
I thought this was a useful recent description of Trump's behaviours and motivation. And how the UK needs to respond. We might not like him, but he is POTUS and we need to try to understand him and work with the USA in a rapidly changing global environment.
www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2025/feb/24/donald-trump-doctrine-usa-reshape-the-world
I’m having fantasies of Trump having a small Spitting Image type puppet on his shoulder in a Jiminy Cricket sort of way.
MayBee70
dragonfly46
nanna8
I would like to hear from an American based Trump supporter because there just has to be some positives. We only ever hear negatives and anti Trump comments. Not just here but almost everywhere.
I wonder why that is - it could be that there aren't any positives!
If only, whenever he spoke, he always had a Macron sitting next to him to point out that what he was saying was totally untrue…
Yes - Macron was great wasn't he? But will have blotted his copy book I think which might make future negotiations with the USA tougher. I loved the way he leaned forwards and touched POTUS at the same time - it was so disarming, that I think Trump didn't quite know what to say. Unfortunately I suspect he will double down on his attempt to get Ukraine to 'repay' the support they have had. (He especially needs uranium to deliver on the commitment he has made to increase nuclear power generation.)
dragonfly46
nanna8
I would like to hear from an American based Trump supporter because there just has to be some positives. We only ever hear negatives and anti Trump comments. Not just here but almost everywhere.
I wonder why that is - it could be that there aren't any positives!
If only, whenever he spoke, he always had a Macron sitting next to him to point out that what he was saying was totally untrue…
Good post foxie
Perhaps because the negatives far outweigh the positives. Trump, of course, does have some positives. He is, especially for his age, an extremely energetic man and he is driven to get recognition for his achievements so he has the ability to weather difficult times and still come out fighting. He is one of the most successful politicians of our time partly because he makes his own rules and has the ability to convince others to back him. His ability to connect to certain groups of people, who are generally not connected to politics, is quite exceptional. He has some talents but unfortunately they are not being used to the common good or in the interests of global stability.
He's desperate to win the Nobel peace prize but sadly in both Gaza and Ukraine his efforts IMO if successful, will lead to a short peace followed by even greater problems later on because he is too focused on what he and the US might get out of a peace rather than realising that peace is built on finding solutions that satisfy both sides in a conflict.
nanna8
I would like to hear from an American based Trump supporter because there just has to be some positives. We only ever hear negatives and anti Trump comments. Not just here but almost everywhere.
If you look at Trumps actions thus far, the only positive thing is stopping trans men to female competing in women’s sport, which should never have been allowed anywhere, ever!
Some women think Trump did this because he cares about women.
I have a different view.
nanna8
I would like to hear from an American based Trump supporter because there just has to be some positives. We only ever hear negatives and anti Trump comments. Not just here but almost everywhere.
I wonder why that is - it could be that there aren't any positives!
I would like to hear from an American based Trump supporter because there just has to be some positives. We only ever hear negatives and anti Trump comments. Not just here but almost everywhere.
I think that the way Trump is running things is transactional with life seen as a profit and loss ledger, but he is also governed by his likes and dislikes, getting rid of things he doesn’t like and rewarding those he likes. Is totally subjective with no thought for what is actually good for the country politically. Is actually very childish, a bit like the rhyme ‘I’m the King of the castle and you’re the dirty rascal.’
IMO it's just as bad to stereotype women as rubbish as it is suggesting they should rule the world, although I suspect the comment about "ruling the world" was a bit tongue in cheek!
Most people on here seem to concur that Trump is basically a completely unsuitable person to be POTUS and tbh I think most of the people he has chosen to take the highest positions in state are also very unsuitable. The latest, Dan Bongino as deputy to Kash Patel, is beyond ridiculous. This man has spread completely unsubstantiated conspiracy stories about the FBI for years and now he's the second in command there. Honestly, it's beyond belief!
Trump is, as we know, completely transactional in his approach to everything and his politics is seemingly based on one theory, that of the "deal". You want something, I want something, let's haggle. the question is surely, can you run a country like that? I don't think you can, even if you had really smart, knowledgeable, experienced people around you to advise you. Trump doesn't though, does he? He is surrounded by Yes men, chosen for their looks (Cain!) and their loyalty, not for what they will bring to the table in terms of key skills and experience. This is a recipe for disaster on a monumental scale and IMO we will all pay a price for this folly.
Galaxy
If you look at the two parties in this country, the Tories have had three female prime ministers and one female leader, the labour party has had zero. I cant tell you how many labour party meetings I have been in with people trying themselves in knots about quotas. The results of the two parties certainly in regard to the top job are interesting.
With the exception of Thatcher it appears to me that the Conservatives put a woman into the top position just when things are going wrong and someone needs to take the flak and be lumbered with the blame.
The moment the storm has passed the woman is dropped like a hot potato and an old Etonian is slipped into the top slot.
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