Would you visit USA in the current climate?

Ozymandius2011 · 20-05-2026 03:35AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124438494#Comment_124438494

Okay on that issue you are correct, though it depends what we start in.

I would add that in a poll out on May 6th, 71% of Irish people want the EU to reduce dependence on the US.

https://www.rte.ie/news/ireland/2026/0506/1571883-eu-attitudes-ireland/

lumphammer2 · 20-05-2026 05:41AM

Would not go there while the current regime is there …… will not even watch this world cup ….. cannot stand most of the regime members and they are ultra annoying at best and downright evil at worst with their wars, ICE and tariffs ….. America has been sliding this way for years ….. since 9/11 at least ….. that was a gift to the extremists ….. ironically the only way it can be great again is if they get rid of the industrialised military cr@p and the paranoia they sow ….. plus the corrupt compromised wannabe politicians like Trump that fit into that toxic culture ….. that is what is dragging them down and pushing them to the far right ……

Jim2007 · 20-05-2026 06:20AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124483837#Comment_124483837

The voters put Trump there twice and since they have averaged only one "No Kings" get together three months, it may be a long wait….

Famous Seamus · 20-05-2026 07:02AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124483848#Comment_124483848

The way I look at it is the mindset that elected Trump will still be there long after he's gone. Almost 80 million voters didn't care enough in the last election to get off their backsides and vote. It's that mindset rather than who's at the top that puts me off.

Brian? · 20-05-2026 02:04PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124483871#Comment_124483871

Puts you off visiting? I can understand why it puts you off the people, but you’re not visiting the people.

The best parts of the US are the vast tracts of unpopulated wilderness for me. I’m currently living in Oregon. low population density, mountains, waterfalls, lakes, forests, the Pacific Ocean and a high desert. I don’t even have to leave the state.

If you don’t want to visit the US because the politics annoy you, you’re really missing out on some wonderful stuff. You’ll never experience being truly isolated in Ireland the way you will here and have relative safety and convenience over anywhere else in the world you can get it.

The Nal · 20-05-2026 02:31PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124484950#Comment_124484950

If you don’t want to visit the US because the politics annoy you, you’re really missing out on some wonderful stuff.

This is the bit that baffles me. As if not going is a "take that Trump" type of thing when in reality they're just missing out on a great holiday.

Rocket_GD · 20-05-2026 02:41PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124485061#Comment_124485061

Not really, there's many, many other countries you can go to if you want to have a far better holiday than you'll have in the US.

The Nal · 20-05-2026 02:54PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124485101#Comment_124485101

Thats quite vague. US has beaches, cities, vast country, small towns, deserts, mountains, lakes….

yagan · 20-05-2026 03:03PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124485101#Comment_124485101

With Ireland as a starting point I have to agree with this, and I've done a good few driving holidays around the US, did the west coast twice. The USA is gigantic, and you have to hone in on a particular area to not wreck yourself driving the long distances between all the interesting places.

The last time I did it we found ourselves fast losing interest in driving more that four hours a day.

Europe on the other hand has lots of interesting scenery, cultural and historical sites that can be accessed a lot easier, without a car and in less time.

Plus on those trips around the US we took years ago there were a lot of sketchy towns we stayed in, real red neck territory and sometimes we'd find ourselves preferring to just eat back at the hotel room rather than small talk with the locals. That was before Trump and social media, but definitely the kind of red neck milieu you'd associate with Trumpistan.

Florida was grim, the more north you went the more confederate flegs you'd see.

Rocket_GD · 20-05-2026 03:07PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124485152#Comment_124485152

Do you want me to name every single country where I believe many would have a better holiday than in the US?

It seems you believe the US to be mecca of holiday destinations.

The Nal · 20-05-2026 03:20PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124485194#Comment_124485194

I didn't say it was. Just that by not going because of Trump you're missing a great holiday. I didnt say the "best holiday destination". But I've traveled quite a bit there and had some of my favourite holidays there. And a great J1 & J2.

But I doubt you've been in every place in the US. Or every other country in the world.

I wouldn't be telling anyone where they can have a "better" holiday though. Some people like sitting on a beach for example. I don't.

J Mysterio · 20-05-2026 03:27PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124484950#Comment_124484950

If the biggest selling point you have for the US is that you can be very isolated from Americans, I'm not sure that is really making a great argument for visiting.

Rocket_GD · 20-05-2026 03:35PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124485225#Comment_124485225

How are they missing a great holiday if they don't want to go to the US? They're missing out on nothing as it wasn't an option.

I have been to a few US states years ago, wasn't overly pushed on the place, hate the tipping culture, the fakeness of the service that it led to in most places, the prices of most things was ludicrous and the fact that you basically have to rent a car to get anywhere is annoying.

I hate just sitting on a beach as well, this isn't the only other holiday option. I've absolutely no interest in ever returning to the US, no matter who's sitting in the oval office.

Hotblack Desiato · 20-05-2026 04:08PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124483816#Comment_124483816

The Republicans and Religious Right were cosying up to each other for nearly 20 years before that, Roe v Wade was the catalyst.

You'd have to imagine that was a calculated decision on the GOP's part, same as when they saw that "states' rights" i.e. legalised racism was a way of eating into the old "Southern Democrat" vote

Famous Seamus · 20-05-2026 05:20PM

Well in my case it is about the people as I'm married to an American (who would never go back there) and trips there are usually to in laws, I've travelled quite bit there but TBH I'd rather be somewhere a bit more exotic. I was in Iceland recently, now that spectacular, give me a European city any day over an American one, I've never got the obsession many Irish people have with the US. The first time I visited, I had seen so much of it on television that there was little that was new or surprising, everything was just as I expected. That's not what I want from travel.

Economics101 · 20-05-2026 05:50PM

It looks like quite a few people are reluctant to visit the USA this year, because of the prices as well as the politics.

https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/articles/c9q34pxv79eo

Benedict XVI · 20-05-2026 06:03PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124485270#Comment_124485270

I've absolutely no interest in ever returning to the US, no matter who's sitting in the oval office.

I think this is the important line in all of this.

If you don't like the US that's fine, I personally love the place and it's people so I would go back no matter who is sitting in the oval office.

It's the actions of people who like the US but are denying themselves the enjoyment of going there because of Trump that I find a bit odd.

Brian? · 20-05-2026 06:11PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124485245#Comment_124485245

That very clearly wasn't my point.

My point is that it's an amazing country to visit. You shouldn't be put off by some nutjobs.

I'll add, you're unlikely to meet said nutjobs. I just finished chatting to a guy in his 60s, ex army. He spent 10 mins complaining about Trump, "60s ex army" is Trumps core normally.

Famous Seamus · 20-05-2026 06:23PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124485270#Comment_124485270

It's the people are the biggest negative for me, I've never met so many people who are self obsessed, money obsessed, status obsessed, I hate their fake friendliness, their over analysis of just about everything, their idea that they live in the best country in the world when it is clearly is not, I could go on ad nauseum.

Fionn · 20-05-2026 07:05PM

my first visit to the US was the Pacific North West, the sights, the landscape, the Pacific coast the forests, the high desert country, all were fantastic to see and really memorable.

I get that the people are a bit "American" as pointed out, not all though, some were pretty ok. I believe most of these people were not Republican leaning.

My last visit! will certainly be the last visit, this was during Trumps regime, had barely stepped off the plane and was greeted by a thug swaggering around the place with a gun and more badges than I could count, chawing on gum and telling me that "You've no rights here" and it went on in that way as I was placed in detention, as they investigated my bona fides for hours and hours, was threatened with all sorts of stuff if I didn't cooperate etc.

How things had changed! after I was finally released, I noticed how run down the place had become there seemed to be a dark shadow over the place. It was truly grim, the only positive experience as a result was the many American people who learned of my experience were so apologetic and embarrassed on behalf of their government. So I would not recommend a trip to the USA, at this pint its a run down 3rd world country where you could be arrested for little or no reason.

I'll never be going there again its a dump!

J Mysterio · 20-05-2026 08:31PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124485724#Comment_124485724

I was being facetious to be fair.

I am appalled at the degeneration of the USA and what it's supposed to represent though. I won't visit again for the foreseeable, and not until there is very major change.

The US is capable of being great, and it can indeed change, but they're very far down a very dark road now, and it almost looks 'too late'.

I mean, nearly a decade after Trump was first in office, the breakdown in the election was something like:

1/3 voted for Trump
1/3 didn't bother vote
1/3 didn't vote for Trump

So that's 2/3 of the population I don't have a warm fuzzy feeling toward, and while much of it looked to be almost standard partisan stuff, of the many who did vote for Trump, most seem to still actually support him.

Evidently Trump learned a lot in his first term, as US democracy and the institutions that support it are being or already have been systematically dismantled or perverted as suits him. The rot is now so deep. There have been so, so many many scandals, many of which should have long since caused impeachment. The most disappointing thing is the lack of overall standards and decency. Congress and the Senate are an embarrassment. Few raise their head above the parapet. No one is held to account.

It would be naive to think it would change much, but King Charles' quite thoughtful speech seems to have caused no introspection at all. He pointedly spoke of 'checks and balances'… A couple of weeks after this, the US President - who was suing the Internal Revenue Service(!) - has an agreement that he, his family, and his businesses will never be pursued by the IRS, and he has a slush fund set up that he administers to the tune of $1.8 billion. The 'justification'? He will use this taxpayers money to recompense 'January Sixers': people who on his urging stormed the US Capitol to pervert US Democracy and the transfer of power. Criminals who were serving prisons sentences who he has already scandalously pardoned!

If an administration was tasked with destroying the US and what it's supposed to represent, they really could not do more. I don't know, maybe some McCarthyism is called for, as Putin could not have had a better friend in the White House if he had picked him and instructed him himself. The amount of damage wreaked in just the last two years is incredible: to the US, its supposed allies, and to the world generally.

J Mysterio · 20-05-2026 08:33PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124485672#Comment_124485672

Good!

Hibernicis · 21-05-2026 08:19PM

Just back after 3 weeks; a few days in Canada and mainly in the US. Travelled a lot and had no issues with CBP etc, though the land crossing from Canada into the US was interesting and a bit of a throwback - they actually stamped my passport.

Met a wide cross section of people in my travels, a few loopers but the vast majority as always were friendly, courteous, helpful and good company. Certainly there is a change in the mood, and few who were obvious traditional centrist Democrats were a little subdued and embarrassed. And very sad to be unable to see anything of the white house which is now sealed off with wire fencing like something in a third world ghetto, and the elipse is completely blocked off.

Days of "cheap" are gone (apart from "gas" which is still less than half what we pay). Went supermarket shopping a few times and the prices generally weren't much different for here, and thats not taking into account the generally inferior quality. And likewise clothes shopping also didn't look particularly good value, certainly not the bargain prices of yesteryear for branded merchandise.

Nothing I experienced would put me off visiting and traveling there, but I suppose like everywhere you need to keep your wits about you and try to stay on the right side of the tracks and out of trouble.

lumphammer2 · 22-05-2026 05:46AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124483848#Comment_124483848

You can never underestimate the stupidity of some voters …. I can envisage the see saw in America over the next number of elections …… moderate admin for one term …… extremist admin for another ….. each Republican admin has been getting worse and worse and worse for the last number of decades …..

Voters who put Trump in the first time could be forgiven ….. they did not want a Clinton dynasty and Trump was an unknown …… nasty campaign rhetoric was nothing new and Clinton herself was as nasty as Trump was against Obama in the Democrat primaries of 2008 ….. but Trump never went beyond the nasty campaign cr@p is the problem !! ….

Trump was rightly got rid of in 2020 ….. but people fell once more for his lies in 2024 ….. no he was never a peace president and yes a war with Iran was a certainty under him as extreme anti Iran agendas were his defining policy of his first admin …… and no he was no economic saviour who could wave a magic wand ……

I am certain of 2 things …… there are millions of Americans now regretting voting for Trump and will vote for the opposition next time …… but also …… these same people and/or others will be once more fooled by another fanatic Republican in a few years time ……. and that remains the problem ……

Ideally the Republicans need to be out of power until this neo-Nazi nastiness in them is eradicated …… sadly this is not how US voters work and these sc@mbags running the Republicans know that ……

The Nal · 22-05-2026 09:33AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124486023#Comment_124486023

1/3 voted for Trump
1/3 didn't bother vote
1/3 didn't vote for Trump

Alternatively, from a total population of 335 million, 77 million, or about 23% voted for Trump. So 77% of people did not.

yagan · 22-05-2026 11:57AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124489216#Comment_124489216

As someone pointed out either here or on another thread there was a similar breakdown of voting around the NAZI era.

A third want to kill another third, and the other third are content to watch.

ancapailldorcha · 22-05-2026 12:05PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124489216#Comment_124489216

Doesn't matter. Hordes of younger people didn't bother to vote against Brexit and the UK still left the EU. Only votes cast are counted.

Hotblack Desiato · 22-05-2026 02:52PM

there are millions of Americans now regretting voting for Trump and will vote for the opposition next time

If they do, or try to - will they be let vote? Will those votes be counted? Will those votes which are counted have equal weight?

Voter suppression, dodgy voting machines and outrageous gerrymandering are all very real.

There's also the question of when, if ever, America will be willing to face up to the fact that they've been played for absolute fools by Russia for years now and Trump was their man, destroying the US's power and influence. It's quite likely that the United States will never recover from what's happened during his administrations -and what's to come.

Kaybaykwah · 22-05-2026 07:05PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124490095#Comment_124490095

His winning the First term seemed implausible to me, and yet, everything was in place for his arrival.

He is very much a product of the mediocre political system that hatched him. Reagan was a gent compared to him, but his jar of jellybeans was equal to Chump’s Quarter pounder with cheese. The Bushes were both the perfect embodiment of the oilpatch slash military industry stewardship over affairs of state. Whatever happens post Chump, the US won’t be that much more trustworthy, IMO.

taxAHcruel · 23-05-2026 07:15AM

Heading over to Texas soon on invitation from friends. Going to take in some bow hunting (hog, nilgai, bears and maybe even a side trip for mountain lion), world cup fixtures, texas BBQ and Kill Tony. I have even agreed to put my name in the bucket for Kill Tony. Though I believe these days the chances of getting picked out of the bucket are about 1/30 as about 300 people put their name in and they pick out about 10 per episode.

Going to stay as long as I can. Not really put off by the political climate given much of it - like other culture war stuff - is exaggerated on line and day to day experience with actual people on the ground is unlikely to be political in any way. There are Americans I have known all my life and I couldn't tell you what way they vote. It's not like the old joke of "How do you know someone is an atheist/vegan/mormon/insertyourshere? They TELL You". I doubt it comes up at all in day to day experience.

Would you visit USA in the current climate?

Comments