Americans appear to be worried for the state of Britain, delving into the intricacies of UK politics to express their concern. Political editor of The Sun, Harry Cole, seems to have had an eye-opening experience when landing in the US as nearly every local asked the same question: “What the hell is going on in Britain?”. Despite the first few months of Donald Trump’s presidency causing a turbulent few months across the pond, US citizens are seemingly more worried about the goings-on in Britain.
Mr Cole explained how, from the second he touched down in America, everyone he spoke with shared the same opinion. Speaking on TalkTV, the newspaper editor said: “From cab drivers to waiters to bellboys, waitresses, strangers – they’re very chatty in California – random people I struck up conversation with in the couple of days I was there, everyone asked me the same question: ‘What the hell is going on in Britain?’”
Mr Cole explained how the level of detail to which people in America knew about issues in the UK was “very interesting”. They spoke on topics such as immigration, net zero, grooming gangs, small boats, and demographic changes. He added that people even mentioned the Tavistock gender clinic, which was a centre for children offering services such as gender-affirming treatments.
“They’re looking at us and thinking, what’s crazy Britain up to?” he said. “We need these people to come and visit – foreign investment to come to our country, we need tourism.”
But Mr Cole explained how “loads of people said to me that they actually wouldn’t come to London now”, despite wanting to “once upon a time”.
“They don’t want to get stabbed or mugged,” he added. “Our reputation is in the pan.”
The political editor pointed to the commentators and politicians “being quick to mock Trump 2.0”, yet questioned if the UK “really [has] a leg to stand on”.
Brits have taken to X in agreement with Mr Cole’s comments, with one angry social media user writing that the state of the UK is “embarrassing”. “Everyone knows how bad it is,” he added. Another said: “Reputation in the pan? That’s putting it mildly”, while a third posted: “Correct. I would not like to visit London for fear of violence and also the UK is doomed.”
