Americans in Sweden describe treatment in wake of Trump threats

Most of our American readers in Sweden say that if Swedes are treating them differently these days, in the wake of their president’s tariff and military threats against various EU countries, including Sweden, it’s mostly in a kind way.

In response to The Local’s (not at all scientific) reader survey on the topic, nineteen out of the thirty American respondents said that they had experienced no worse treatment from Swedes on a personal level. The most commonly described change in Swedish behaviour was extra sympathy for Americans, whom Swedes assume are feeling embarrassed and anxious about the actions of their president.

“Humiliating and scary”

Embarrassment and fear were indeed the most common feelings described by American readers in Sweden.

“Terrified, ashamed and powerless,” said Nate from Arizona, now living in Stockholm, when describing how he feels about his government’s actions, while Thomas from Buffalo, now in Uppsala, said “I often think I can’t reach a new level of embarrassment and despair about the policies and behaviour of the current U.S. government. But, silly me, something new happens and away we go!” 

“Normally an optimist, silver lining type, I find myself catastrophizing and feeling helpless,” said Dharma from California, now living in Värmland, while Eric from Washington State wrote, “[a]ll of this (Greenland, visa restrictions on key EU figures over DSA enforcement, the existing 15 percent tariff regime, etc) fills me with anxiety on a daily basis.”

Many said their embarrassment has led to them either hiding, or thinking about hiding, their American identity.

“We are embarrassed to be Americans,” wrote Jay, who lives in Malmö. “We keep a low profile and attempt to speak Swedish as much as possible.”

Lindsay from California, now living in Stockholm, wrote, “It makes me uneasy to tell people I’m from the US,” and Ashish, who lives in Gothenburg said he “would have a difficult time saying I am an American if Trump moves forward with the Greenland threat.”

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Questions…and pity.

By far the most common Swedish reaction described by our American readers was sympathy, or pity, followed by a tendency to ask more questions.

Thomas from Buffalo, now living in Uppsala, wrote “People don’t react in any worse way with me, but they do increasing show more pity,” while Walter, a dual American-Swedish citizen, said, “If anything, Swedes have sympathy for my nationality at birth,” adding,”Jag är svensk nu” (I am Swedish now). 

Eden wrote that if she’d noticed any change it was that “perhaps people are more sympathetic. All our Swedish friends and neighbours already knew that we left the USA because of politics—because my queer, immigrant family isn’t safe there. Everyone, including us, thinks the United States government has gone out of its mind.”

Americans in Sweden also seem to be getting more questions about their government and country, as confused or anxious Swedes seek information about the volatile global situation. 

“The people I see want insight,” wrote Lin, who described her feeling about current feelings about Trump’s actions in one word: “queasy.”

“There is concern about the relationship with the US,” Lin continued, while Hillary from New Jersey, who works at a school in Sweden, says more students are asking her where she’s from.

An anonymous respondent said, “I get a lot of questions seeking answers to this behaviour of the president, but most folks are pretty cognizant of the fact that i am just a normal person and have no actual say in state affairs.”

About seven respondents also said they hadn’t noticed any change – or, at least, “not really.”

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“Once you say you didn’t vote for Trump, they do not treat you any differently”

Brian from California, now living in Stockholm, voiced another common theme, saying that “Swedes are very understanding” and will not “treat you any differently” “once you say you didn’t vote for or support Trump.”

Similarly, Lindsay, also from California, wrote “new Swedes I meet tend to ask something along the lines of ‘I assume you aren’t a Trump supporter, otherwise you probably wouldn’t be here, right?’ People are very curious to talk about politics and have many questions about oddities like the pledge of allegiance.”

“I haven’t experienced any difference personally, ” wrote Patrick from Pennsylvania, who now lives in Malmö, “but that is because I am and always have been openly anti-American. In general, it seems that people are a bit more vocal about how insane the US administration is, but this has been the case for a long time.”

While many respondents said they are quick to let Swedes know that they “do not agree with the current administration,” four out of the thirty expressed supported for Trump, and said they don’t appreciate Swedish assumptions that they disagree with him.

“Feels like Americans are expected to explain political actions without first considering whether or not they’re personally supported,” wrote one anonymous respondent. “EU perspective ignores that some actions prioritize American interests. I always thought politics should be avoided in polite conversation, but it seems that American politics are fair game.” 

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“Swedish people think Americans are stupid to elect Trump”

A notable minority of respondents said they have experienced Swedes treating them differently, whether or not they support Trump.

“Gradually since 2016 this has been a very palpable change, some have even vocally demand to know what I am doing, how do I take responsibility,” said Dharma from California, while Ashish, who, like Dharma, does not support the current administration, wrote that “Swedish people just think Americans are stupid to elect Trump (without knowing the details).”

On the other side of the aisle was Mike from New York, now living in Stockholm, who wrote, “Swedes and Europeans have always been anti-American, and have often engaged in verbal combat with Americans. They don’t like us. We know that.”

“I also see no reason why Denmark should hold part of North America,” he continued, “which it can’t defend and probably should never have ‘owned’. Its a tiny nation in Europe.”

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“They know I’m not my government”

The overall theme was that Swedes have generally been “mature and gracious in separating me, an American, from the actions of the current US president,” but that the topic of the U.S. overall is a charged one.

“I think most people realize that I don’t represent my government,” agreed Kyle from Texas, who lives in Uppsala, while Mike in Dalarna “Swedes have always been very welcoming and friendly on a personal level but I do see significantly more anti-American content from Swedes on Facebook.”

Nate from Arizona made a similar comment: “Most people otherwise still treat me with dignity and respect but there is a noticeable anxiety around the topic of the US and some have told me the they think Americans are simply just letting this happen and are complacent in the actions of the state, despite all the news of Americans getting arrested or detained for speaking out against the US Government.” 

Other respondents wrote about how people in Sweden no longer tell them about wanting to visit or move to the U.S., or that “people were beginning to sour on Americans during Trump 1.” 

“I’ve had co-workers actually talk about politics over fika, which is a first,” wrote Joseph in Stockholm. “They seem mostly confused or scared, and no one has been angry with me personally,” he continued.

“I think there is clearly less enthusiasm for the US than during the Biden administration but it is similar to how things were during Trump’s first term. As an American here people treat me well however, many of my friends are hesitant or refuse to take trips to the US,” said Rajan from LA, who now lives in Gothenburg.

This trend was perhaps best summed up by an American reader in Malmö who gave their name but preferred to remain anonymous. “People still treat me with respect as an individual, yet I feel a huge shift in how people perceive the United States and Americans for the worse.”