Every summer, scores of Americans flock to Europe to get their cultural fix: a visit to the Vatican here, a selfie and guided tour at the Parthenon there.
Generally, they’re met by friendly Europeans on their treks on the continent. But as anti-American sentiment grows across the globe due to trade wars and actual wars, some travelers may worry: Will American visitors encounter a cooler reception across Europe on their summer trips?
Last spring, the risk management company Global Rescue conducted a survey that found 72% of “experienced” U.S. travelers expected Americans to be less welcome abroad in 2025 ― and that was before President Donald Trump made some of his more erratic geopolitical moves.
Since then, the Trump administration has antagonized longtime allies by dismissing NATO and pressuring European countries over Greenland, has launched military strikes in Venezuela, and now has partnered with Israel in a war with Iran that has escalated into the largest Middle East conflict in more than two decades, all while having no clear plan for what comes next.
With some traveling Americans wondering how they’ll be perceived, we turned to Europeans and longtime U.S. expats to get their perspective: What’s their perception of U.S. travelers these days? Do they recognize that America is not a monolith, or are we living up to the “ugly American” idea?
