“Oh, sorry about that” and “that’s a shame” are common responses I receive when I tell other Brits that I’m half American. Truthfully, having been born and raised in the United Kingdom, I understand their reaction. It’s not just politics that makes the US seem messy and concerning, but also its wider culture that praises extreme patriotism, social atomisation, and problematic levels of overconsumption. Moreover, Charlie Kirk’s recent murder has further emphasised how ingrained gun violence is in the States. Rather than serving as a stark reminder of how dangerously polarised the US has become, his death is already being exploited to stoke the flames of political fire.

That being said, as critical as I am of the US, I do genuinely love being an American citizen (and it takes a lot of bravery to admit that in writing). For a country with such an abhorrent history of violence and exploitation, its modern-day diversity is truly remarkable. In Los Angeles, where my grandmother lives, around 40% of the population was born abroad, bringing culture (and most importantly, food) from countries ranging from Mexico to Thailand to Armenia. However, anyone can see that this level of multiculturalism is certainly under threat from America’s current administration.

“The recent spike in the display of Union Jack and St George’s flags feels unmistakably influenced by American-style patriotism”

During Trump’s first term, I only visited the US once: in 2019, when I was 13. Although I remember being troubled by his presidency, it wasn’t until my trip to LA this August that I was old enough to fully experience his impact. In the weeks before my trip, my social media was flooded with haunting videos of masked ICE agents kidnapping innocent people off the streets solely for the ‘crime’ of being undocumented. When consequent anti-ICE protests erupted downtown, Trump’s administration responded by deploying 2,000 National Guard soldiers and 700 Marines. It was only a few months before, in November 2024, that the Los Angeles City Council had passed measures to make itself a ‘sanctuary city’ for the protection of its undocumented inhabitants.

To my surprise, when we arrived, the city seemed largely back to normal, like the calm after the storm. The demonstrations downtown had slowed, and the National Guard was withdrawn on 15/07. However, there were subtle differences that, while easy to overlook, revealed the wider impact of these militarised and authoritarian attacks. For example, areas previously bustling with migrant workers were now noticeably empty, like the parking lot of Home Depot, where men used to congregate in hopes of finding a job. The fruit cutting stands, which are an LA staple dotted around most street corners and primarily run by Hispanic immigrants, now appeared to be manned by younger workers with American accents, less vulnerable to ICE attacks. The city’s produce market downtown, where many customers were immigrants, was also left practically empty following the raids. Indeed, on 14/08, only a few blocks away from where my family and I were having lunch, ICE agents surrounded a rally held by California Governor Gavin Newsom, detaining at least one person.

“We risk following America in losing our nation’s community”

While these changes could easily go unnoticed for those unfamiliar with Los Angeles, they undoubtedly cultivate an atmosphere of fear and unease for the city’s inhabitants. Countless people are having to decide between losing paychecks or risking encountering immigration forces. This is bringing local businesses that depend on immigrant customers to a halt. In this way, my recent trip to the US highlighted how right-wing authoritarianism thrives not just in public, dramatic displays of force, but also in the quiet, ongoing fear it instils in those it targets.

With the rise of extreme politics in both the US and UK, more similarities are emerging between the two countries. The recent spike in the display of Union Jack and St George’s flags feels unmistakably influenced by American-style patriotism. Nevertheless, the flags evoke different reactions in me. In the US, where it’s common to see their flag flying on almost every suburban lawn, it’s often the others to look out for. Flags like Blue Lives Matter, Don’t Tread on Me, and the Betsy Ross design are more overtly right-wing. While these dog whistles are easy to disregard, after seeing them crop up in my grandmother’s neighbourhood, I can attest to the feeling of unease they provoke (similar to when many see the St George’s flag).

As Brits, we should look to the US as a warning of what happens when restrictions on far-right politics fail and populism soars. With the ever-growing popularity of Reform, we risk following America in losing our nation’s community and becoming even more polarised and hateful. This is already taking place, with around 150,000 protesters joining Tommy Robinson’s march on 13/09. Elon Musk even spoke at this rally, inciting the same violence and fear that he has worked so hard to generate in the US. We must not go down this rabbit hole of copying a country where authoritarian attacks are commonplace and families are so divided on politics that they collapse. Unless the government stops appeasing Reform and starts addressing people’s economic and social concerns (while highlighting the benefits of diversity), this is the direction we are unfortunately heading in.