Yeah.....the layers of impact here are staggering, truly. Just some fascinating ones on a personal level:
1) My son is the only American in a class on Transatlantic Foreign Relations at a university in Germany right now. He relates that damned near every class, as they are discussing the latest globally devastating misstep by the US, the class turns to him and says "so....what do you think?" He tries to explain the American perspective, but so many times, he just ends with "I've got nothing. It's just so stupid." At least his classmates seem kind and sympathetic.
2) And yes, both kids have had multiple conversations where they have to explain that half of America is victims in this whole deal, as big or bigger victims than folks in the rest of the world.
3) On a selfish personal level, I'm kind of pissed about what this is likely to do with our plans for summer 2026, when the World Cup is coming to Texas (Dallas and Houston). We were already talking with various groups of friends overseas about coming in for that. We'd all get together, barbecues, the beach, attend matches, just have a great gathering. Now....I'm more and more convinced that they aren't interested in supporting the US economy in any way, they aren't interested in the risks of being randomly abused/detained by our CBP/immigration system...they are just bunkering, and reaching the "yeah, we love y'all, Brisket family....but we're not willing to travel to the US right now" point. And I can't fucking blame them.
We are becoming a pariah state, and we fucking deserve it. All of it. And more.