{"id":2321720,"date":"2024-08-09T06:08:02","date_gmt":"2024-08-09T10:08:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/londoners-befuddled-by-us-presidential-election-choices-washington-examiner\/"},"modified":"2024-08-09T06:12:09","modified_gmt":"2024-08-09T10:12:09","slug":"londoners-befuddled-by-us-presidential-election-choices-washington-examiner","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/londoners-befuddled-by-us-presidential-election-choices-washington-examiner\/","title":{"rendered":"Londoners befuddled by US presidential election choices &#8211; Washington Examiner"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">20<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Flondoners-befuddled-by-us-presidential-election-choices-washington-examiner%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2321720&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>The article\u2064 discusses the concerns \u2064of Londoners about the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/actress-sarah-paulson-talks-finding-the-humanity-in-clinton-whistleblower-linda-tripp\/\" title=\"Actress Sarah Paulson Talks \u2018Finding The Humanity\u2019 In Clinton Whistleblower Linda Tripp\">current political landscape<\/a> in\u2064 the United States \u200bahead of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/are-covid-case-surges-more-fake-news\/\" title=\"Are COVID Case Surges More Fake News?\">presidential election<\/a>. Many\u200d residents express confusion and worry over the polarization\u200c of \u2063American politics, noting the deep divisions between \u2063conservative\u2062 and progressive \u2063camps. The\u200d conversation \u200btouches \u200bupon the potential for violence, especially after\u2064 recent incidents involving former President Donald Trump, including \u200dan attempted assassination and a \u200ddeadly shooting at \u200ba Trump rally.<\/p>\n<p>Londoners, like Anthony, a successful \u2062artist, reflect on\u2062 the chaos surrounding the \u200belection cycle and express fears that a violent backlash could \u200doccur if Trump were to be harmed. Others, such\u200d as Elizabeth, a public relations professional, criticize the\u2064 candidates, labeling them as out of touch, and \u2062question why younger, more relatable leaders are not in the mix. <\/p>\n<p>James, a software \u200crepresentative, comments on the ironic situation of Biden&#8217;s declining health \u2063and Trump&#8217;s resurgence \u2064in popularity, while\u200b Paul, a literary\u2063 agent, stresses the importance\u2064 of the upcoming election and the dangers of ignoring the implications of a Trump \u2062presidency.\u2062 the\u200d article highlights a sense\u2062 of unease among Londoners who are watching the unfolding drama of American politics from\u200d afar, reflecting on the ramifications it may have for the United Kingdom and the broader international community.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-sacff-txt\">Magazine &#8211; Washington Briefing <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Londoners befuddled by US presidential election choices<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_1100991\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>&ldquo;Are you going to have another civil war?&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Anthony asked the question without a hint of humor. Like many <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/london\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>Londoners<\/a>, he witnesses what most Americans see: A deeply divided <a href=\"http:\/\/washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/united-states\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>United States<\/a> heading into the homestretch of a presidential <a href=\"http:\/\/washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/2024-elections\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>election<\/a> season in which the conservative and progressive camps remain so staunchly, yet <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/progressive-democrats-behind-ocasio-cortez-win-looking-to-primary-joe-manchin-kyrsten-sinema\/\" title=\"Progressive Democrats Behind Ocasio-Cortez Win Looking To Primary Joe Manchin, Kyrsten Sinema\">evenly divided<\/a> that the suggestion of national unity,&nbsp;perhaps even sanity,&nbsp;seems impossible.<\/p>\n<p>A successful London artist based in Hackney, Anthony watched the headlines of London&rsquo;s multiple daily newspapers in awe of the hostility and chaos dominating the American election cycle. He has many friends across the ocean. He wants the election to pass without further violence, after the July 13 assassination attempt on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/donald-trump\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>former President Donald Trump<\/a>, the 2024 Republican nominee.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;I don&rsquo;t know what&rsquo;s going to happen,&rdquo; Anthony said with genuine worry about the shooting in Butler, Pennsylvania, at a Trump rally where attendee Corey Comperatore, 50 was killed, and David Dutch, 57, and James Copenhaver, 74, were injured.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;If that (assassin&rsquo;s) bullet was a couple inches over and Trump was killed, I think you could&rsquo;ve seen a real rebellion happen with MAGA taking up arms,&rdquo; Anthony said.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">(Examiner Photo Illustration \/ AP Photos) <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>On the other hand, Anthony questioned whether there was even enough unity within true red, white, and blue factions to manage a civil war.<\/p>\n<p>The artist shares the concerns of many citizens in the British capital. Fresh off their own major election in which the Left-leaning Labour Party made huge gains to seize control of Parliament and hand power over to new Prime Minister Keir Starmer, the men and women of London now turn their attention to the presidential race and the fate of the United Kingdom&rsquo;s strongest ally and the other half of the Special Relationship.<\/p>\n<p>In all instances, the concerned followers of international politics asked for their last names to be withheld, citing the often incendiary nature of politics on both sides of the Atlantic in the age of social media. They spoke on the record after President Joe Biden&rsquo;s debate failures and the assassination attempt on Trump but before the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee and Biden&rsquo;s July 21 withdrawal from the race in favor of Vice President Kamala Harris.<\/p>\n<p>However, in each case, those offering opinions made it clear they assumed Biden would not continue to run based on his declining health.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;It&rsquo;s insane, isn&rsquo;t it?&rdquo; Elizabeth complained over a coffee at one of the city&rsquo;s countless Pret a Manger locations near the Victoria Rail Station. The public relations professional and French expatriate who&rsquo;s been in London for more than a decade wondered how she could promote the candidates she watched from a distance if she had that job.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;I see a senile old man who can&rsquo;t make it and a narcissistic old man who shouldn&rsquo;t be there,&rdquo; Elizabeth said. &ldquo;That&rsquo;s the best the country can do? How did they end with only old men in charge? Isn&rsquo;t there any way to get some new, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/fire-fauci-new-study-finds-closing-schools-in-response-to-covid-19-delayed-herd-immunity-and-will-increase-overall-deaths\/\" title=\"FIRE FAUCI: New Study Finds Closing Schools In Response to COVID-19 Delayed Herd Immunity and Will Increase Overall Deaths\">younger people<\/a> into their system?&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Elizabeth noted the wild politics that often seize her native France, including the recent upset losses of Marine Le Pen and her nationalists in favor of leftist and centrist candidates. Still, she believes the drama in Paris is more a performance to entertain the citizenry than what she sees as the potentially more dangerous U.S. campaigns.<\/p>\n<p>Across town, James works as a software representative, a stone&rsquo;s throw from Central London&rsquo;s Liverpool Street. Even as he watched Biden fade from the scene, he noted Trump&rsquo;s growing lead in the polls and found irony in the Democratic ticket.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;American politics are a mess,&rdquo; James said. &ldquo;I know Biden wants to stay in it until the end because he always insisted he&rsquo;s the only one who could beat Trump. Of course, because he held on for so long, he&rsquo;s the one who set it up for Trump to win.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>James almost commiserated with the American electorate. He acknowledged Biden is clearly approaching senility, but he fears the 78-year-old Trump can&rsquo;t be far behind.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;I hope perhaps the assassination attempt might galvanize the U.S. somewhat and reduce some of the polarization, but I doubt it will,&rdquo; he added.<\/p>\n<p>Paul is a London-born-and-bred literary agent who does business in both British and American publishing industries. A staunch supporter of the Left in both countries, he carries a profound dislike and mistrust of Trump, while wondering why it seems so many Americans are unconcerned and disengaged.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;I disagree strongly with the &lsquo;not&nbsp;Trump, not Biden approach,&rsquo;&rsquo; he stressed. &ldquo;This election is far too important to the world to just amble through, as we often do. Trump is far too real. I believe Biden had a successful first four years and would be infinitely&nbsp;preferable&nbsp;to a Hitler-wannabe emerging from the wings.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Despite his strong attack on Trump, Paul acknowledged Biden became an uninspiring head of state during his first term due to flagging health fading and mental capacity. He relied on the belief that Biden might continue to serve because the president did a strong job choosing people to represent his policy goals.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;I think all this angst about Joe took the focus off Trump and&nbsp;what he represents,&rdquo; Paul added. &ldquo;That&rsquo;s the danger. Biden said what he represents and wants to enact, and I support those goals, given the alternatives. The choices this election are stark and clear. This is a seminal election in terms of whether or not America loses its way for a very long time. And, I want my son to grow in a compassionate society that values discussion and compromise and worthy goals, not fear and retribution and repression.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Back at Liverpool Street, James said the U.K. can still unite on occasion, but he doubts that&rsquo;s possible in the U.S.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;I remember when Queen Elizabeth died,&rdquo; James explained. &ldquo;A hundred thousand people lined Pall Mall leading up to Buckingham Palace. Now, I know by sheer numbers and the law of averages, there had to be people standing next to each other in that crowd who disagreed with each other&rsquo;s politics. But, for that one day, they put that aside to honor the queen.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong><\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Pausing to think, James shook his head in surrender.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;I can&rsquo;t think of a single thing that would bring Americans together the same way.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p> <script data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/cdn-cgi\/scripts\/5c5dd728\/cloudflare-static\/email-decode.min.js\"><\/script><script>!function(){var g=window;g.googletag=g.googletag||{},g.googletag.cmd=g.googletag.cmd||[],g.googletag.cmd.push(function(){g.googletag.pubads().setTargeting(\"has-featured-video\",\"true\")})}();<\/script><script>var _bp=_bp||[];_bp.push({\"div\":\"Brid_1100991\",\"obj\":{\"id\":\"27789\",\"width\":\"1280\",\"height\":\"720\",\"stickyDirection\":\"below\",\"video\":\"1100991\"}});<\/script><script defer src=\"https:\/\/services.brid.tv\/player\/build\/brid.min.js\"><\/script><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>**Magazine &#8211; Washington Briefing: Londoners Confused by US Presidential Election Options**<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAre you anticipating another civil war?\u201d Anthony posed the question seriously. Like many residents of London, he observes what most Americans are experiencing: a highly polarized United States approaching the final stages of a presidential election cycle, where conservative and progressive factions are so firmly entrenched that the idea of national unity\u2014or even rationality\u2014seems unattainable. A successful artist from Hackney, Anthony is taken aback by the hostility and turmoil dominating American election coverage in London&#8217;s numerous daily newspapers. With friends across the Atlantic, he hopes for an election free from further violence following the assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump on July 13, who is running as the Republican nominee for 2024. \u201cI\u2019m genuinely worried about what might happen,\u201d Anthony expressed concern over a shooting at a Trump rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, which resulted in one death and two injuries. \u201cIf that bullet had been just slightly off-target and killed Trump, I think we could have seen real unrest with MAGA supporters taking up arms,\u201d he remarked.<\/p>\n<p>Conversely, Anthony questioned whether there was sufficient unity among true red-white-and-blue factions to even engage in a civil war. He shares concerns common among many citizens in London. Fresh from their own significant elections where the Left-leaning Labour Party made substantial gains under new Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Londoners now focus on America\u2019s presidential race and its implications for their strongest ally\u2014the other half of the Special Relationship.<\/p>\n<p>In all cases discussed here, individuals requested anonymity due to the often volatile nature of politics on both sides of the Atlantic amid social media&#8217;s influence. They spoke candidly after President Joe Biden&#8217;s debate struggles and Trump&#8217;s assassination attempt but before both Biden\u2019s withdrawal from running on July 21 to support Vice President Kamala Harris and before the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee.<\/p>\n<p>Elizabeth shared her thoughts over coffee at one of Pret a Manger&#8217;s locations near Victoria Rail Station: \u201cIt\u2019s insane!\u201d The public relations professional originally from France has lived in London for over ten years; she pondered how she could promote candidates she views critically if it were her job. \u201cI see an elderly man who can\u2019t keep up and another narcissistic old man who shouldn\u2019t be there,\u201d Elizabeth lamented about American leadership choices while questioning why only older men seem to dominate positions of power.<\/p>\n<p>James works as a software representative near Liverpool Street Station; he noted Biden\u2019s decline while observing Trump gaining traction in polls with irony regarding Democratic prospects. \u201cAmerican politics are chaotic,\u201d James commented while acknowledging Biden&#8217;s desire to remain until his term ends because he believes he&#8217;s uniquely positioned to defeat Trump\u2014a situation James feels has inadvertently set up Trump&#8217;s potential victory due to Biden&#8217;s prolonged candidacy despite evident signs of cognitive decline.<\/p>\n<p>Paul is a literary agent based in London with ties to both British and American publishing sectors; as an ardent supporter of leftist ideals across both nations, he expresses deep mistrust towards Trump while questioning why many Americans appear apathetic or disengaged politically. He strongly opposes any notion that suggests simply rejecting both major candidates without consideration: &#8220;This election holds immense significance globally,&#8221; Paul emphasized.<\/p>\n<p>Despite his criticisms toward Trump\u2014and recognizing Biden\u2019s uninspiring leadership during his first term\u2014Paul remains hopeful about Biden continuing due to his effective appointments aligning with policy goals: &#8220;The focus should not solely be on Joe but also what he&#8217;s fighting against.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Reflecting back at Liverpool Street Station regarding unity within Britain compared to America during times like Queen Elizabeth II&#8217;s passing when thousands came together despite differing political views\u2014James concluded sadly that no similar event could unite Americans today<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3277,"featured_media":2321721,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/AP24167395694025.jpg.optimal.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[538],"tags":[37636,17131,5894,34832,33974],"class_list":["post-2321720","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-washington-examiner","tag-international-reactions","tag-london","tag-politics","tag-public-opinion","tag-us-presidential-election"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/AP24167395694025.jpg.optimal.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2321720","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3277"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2321720"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2321720\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2321721"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2321720"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2321720"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2321720"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}