Never thought I’d hear this

These women must have been serious airheads. Trump was not and is not a successful businessman. He is however pocketing lots of money on the back of his 'policies' and taking a lot of backhanders from billionaires and I suspect Israel.
That aisle, he is a shameless immoral bully who has grossly offensive attitudes towards the poor, migrants, women and the disabled. He also has a grossly offensive attitudes towards veterans and clearly puts a low value on their lives as he does on the lives of non American citizens. Apparently they are just 'losers and suckers'. How Trump and his cronies tried to public ally humiliate Zelensky spoke volumes about the man.

Don't get involved in another country's politics as you don't live there. It will only backfire and cause animosity on your holiday. Maybe Trump has made their life better. I've got to say if I had a choice between Trump and Starmer I really think I would pick Trump. He's sorting out the drug dealers and gangs, and illegal immigrants which is more than what Starmer is doing. Tight control on his borders too. No I don't agree with a lot he's done but some things are better than what's happening here.

I was on a cruise in Jan/Feb with lots of Americans, the ones we spoke with said they were embarrassed to be American and they despised Trump.
It’s not a subject I wanted to discuss whilst on holiday to be honest.

A very close friend of mine in the US is a real Trump supporter. I found it difficult to believe as she is a very straight forward, straight talking business person, full of common sense, into all sorts of help in the community, organises many events for charity and seemed to really have her head screwed on and yet she is a fervent supporter. We have to agree to disagree.
Also met a couple in the US who had worked on Trumps campaign and wouldn't hear a word against him, showed us pics of themselves with the Trump. DH and I tried hard to be tactful but they wouldn't listen to any slight criticism - wonder what they think now!

AGAA4

I'm guessing that those American women were on the wealthy side. Poorer Americans have been hit hard and harder still due to this war.

That is very true. My DiL is American (now a British Citizen) her mother lives in Colorado.
She is seriously struggling.
She has to live on her small pension pot and social security her life post Trump is very difficult.
The cost of food has gone up significantly and they constantly worry that the limited health care is going to be taken away completely.

If my Son or DIL send her money that will reduce her benefits.
Fortunately, my DS goes to the USA every 3-4 months with work and manages to meet up with her. So he takes her out shopping to stock up on certain things.

So DT might be wonderful for those with money but the others don't have much of a hope.

Just remind me How many times has he been made bankrupt?

Message deleted by Gransnet. Here's a link to our Talk guidelines.

As an US citizen I find that it was really rude to be so loud, first of all, then expressing an opinion during a time of war that is controversial. I am sorry these ignorant people were ruining your swim.

Missiseff

He was voted in by a majority unfortunately. What I can't get my head around us WOMEN voting for him

Exactly…there is even a group called ‘Women for Trump’. !! I will NEVER understand how any woman could support the man who said “ when you’re a star, you can do anything to women. You can grab them by the pussy…. And they let you “.
Spoke last night to a couple who had been on holiday in New Zealand, sat near an American couple who, like the main poster here, were eulogist Trump. My friend put a few hard questions to them and didn”t get an answer, but MY question to all these Trump supporters would first be “ What about his complete lack of MORAL CHARACTER? “ They all say wonderful businessman … he’s not. Great immigration policies…yes needed reform, but not the horror and chaos he has unleashed . Making money … yes for HIMSELF and his rich buddy’s NOT for the country. Wars … need I go on… He is the worst President EVER.

Barbadosbelle

Nanna8

Why did you swiftly swim off?

Do you only have contact with people whose political opinion match your own? If you vote Labour are all your friends and relatives Socialist? If you vote Conservative are all
your ........ etc etc etc?

Why can't you accept that others might think differently than you on a multitude of subjects? Surely a mix of opinions and thoughts is a good thing?

Sounds as though you aren't a very tolerant person, and one who must have a very small social and family circle .
.

😂😂

She was on holiday 🏊‍♀️
You know, one of those breaks you take to get away from it all and relax.

Perhaps some people have long political discussions and disagreements with strangers on holiday and if that is what floats your cruise liner, that's up to you.

But most don't.

Barbadosbelle

Nanna8

Why did you swiftly swim off?

Do you only have contact with people whose political opinion match your own? If you vote Labour are all your friends and relatives Socialist? If you vote Conservative are all
your ........ etc etc etc?

Why can't you accept that others might think differently than you on a multitude of subjects? Surely a mix of opinions and thoughts is a good thing?

Sounds as though you aren't a very tolerant person, and one who must have a very small social and family circle .
.

Does it not strike you, barboesbell, that most people would consider it very rude indeed if anyone butted into a conversation that they had overheard?

OP chanced to hear some remarks whilst swimming near to the ladies who were talking. She was not part of the conversation.

Another point is that good manners should preclude us all from criticising the government of a foreign country too much when we are travelling.

I don't think that OP's failure to join in this particular conversation can be taken to mean that she has a circle of friends and relatives who all vote as she does, not that she is not a tolerant person.

While I understand why you swam away, Nanna8, I rather wish you'd pointed out that Europeans including the UK have a very negative opinion of their president.

Barbadosbelle, perhaps it's is a little patronising to assume that someone is intolerant and has a small circle of friends from one remark, don't you think?
The Middle East is on fire, schools have been bombed, the availability of oil is in jeopardy,and dead soldiers are arriving back to be buried .
The only people responsible for this are Mr Trump and Mr Netanyahu . For myself, I would find it helpful to put a little space between myself and anyone applauding these men.

I have spoken to a sensible balanced American woman who said 'things needed shaking up - maybe he is just what we needed........' I struggled to reply. It does show how profoundly we are affected by the people around us, even though we tell ourselves we make up our own minds.
But I also wonder if Trump is in a sense a cult leader - and in cults people do 'give away' their capacity to think for themselves - at least untill they step back and see what the rest of us have been able to see all along.

Um, just ant to say that Keir Starmer wasn’t voted in.The Labour Party was voted in. I know it must look like nitpuckng, but I think it is a real strength that the Prime Minister is just that. The leader of a cabinet of Ministers who would be able to step in and stop him if he started running amok!

Well said Lathyrus.
As exemplified after Liz Truss had been PM for 6 weeks.
It makes me wonder if we had a President instead of a Constitutional Monarch, how much power a President would have, and how easy or difficult it would be to remove them from office.

Many, if not most Americans aren’t rabid right-wing Trump supporters.
I was on the Staten Island Ferry some years ago when someone started sounding off about Democrats, socialism etc.
I wouldn’t have dreamt of joining in, but as we disembarked, some people who had heard our British accents came up to us and apologised for what we’d heard and wanted to reassure us that not everyone held the views we’d been treated to hearing.

Fartooold

Yes, indeed. NEVER have any contact with anyone whose political views aren't identical to yours.
.

Sarnia

I can understand what those ladies meant if they are seeing improvements in work and conditions in the US because of Trump's administration.
I would also like to see a decisive businessman in this country, carrying out a thorough investigation into the NHS. Someone without a political agenda who could put this wonderful organisation back on track and save £m's in the process which could be better used elsewhere. It has been mismanaged by both main parties for decades and needs an urgent overhaul.

Exactly. Well said

I did live in an affluent area of the USA and the women did vote for Trump.
Because they feel he will make the USA better.
When we first moved to the USA every shelf in Walmart had Made in the USA along with the price now you go there and it’s not the case because everything is made in China and that is what people remember.
I’m certainly not sticking up for Trump please don’t think that, however I do think he is mis quoted a lot or in the case of the BBC they completely give false representation .
Also as a by they are not Americans as such.
America is the land mass of North and South America.
The people you have been referencing are citizens of the United States of America

Enjoy your cruise nanna8. Good of you to bother with us, when you should be relaxing.

Maremia

Enjoy your cruise nanna8. Good of you to bother with us, when you should be relaxing.

And say hello to wherever you are nanna8 👋👋👋

Send us a postcard!!

Danma

I was on a cruise in Jan/Feb with lots of Americans, the ones we spoke with said they were embarrassed to be American and they despised Trump.
It’s not a subject I wanted to discuss whilst on holiday to be honest.

This was my son’s experience, too. The Americans apologised for Trump.

.

We were taught to never ever to discuss politics, sex, religion or money in polite society.

So my siblings and myself never have. Nobody's business after all and saves any jealousy or arguments.

It's a good rule to live by.
.

sazz1

Don't get involved in another country's politics as you don't live there. It will only backfire and cause animosity on your holiday. Maybe Trump has made their life better. I've got to say if I had a choice between Trump and Starmer I really think I would pick Trump. He's sorting out the drug dealers and gangs, and illegal immigrants which is more than what Starmer is doing. Tight control on his borders too. No I don't agree with a lot he's done but some things are better than what's happening here.

Spot on.

Lathyrus3

Um, just ant to say that Keir Starmer wasn’t voted in.

The Labour Party was voted in.

I know it must look like nitpuckng, but I think it is a real strength that the Prime Minister is just that. The leader of a cabinet of Ministers who would be able to step in and stop him if he started running amok!

Yes, it's a huge difference, a PM isn't a head of state like Trump and can be removed far more easily.

I think Labour are doing ok btw, not great, but I feel they are behaving in a calm manner considering the horrors of current global situation, and not behaving like clowns to distract from their difficulties.

From what I've seen the standard of education in the US doesn't encourage people to critically evaluate what they hear on news channels and it's probably quite hard to know what is evidenced unbiased reporting. In this respect Trump has so far proved very effective. The war further draws attention away from the economic disaster he appears to be imposing on the poorest to benefit the financially better off. Likely these tourists haven't been affected in a negative way - as yet.

What he's done is to break tradition and push forward a new way of operating in the world based on raw power and might, not negotiation and consensus, no concern for the rights of those who stand on the way of whatever he decides is his next deal.

Pleased that currently our politics don't operate like that although if reform ever got into power and abolished the equality legislation that protects us all that style of operating could find it's way over here.

We're doomed Mr Mannering!!!