American tourists in Paris have reverted to unusual precautions to obscure their nationality due to embarrassment over Donald Trump’s turbulent tariffs policy. The US President’s so-called Liberation Day last week saw him unveil a sweeping tariff hike, triggering fears of a global trade war.
The move sparked chaos in the global stock markets, although the US stock exchange posted some gains on Friday at the end of a tumultuous week that saw Mr Trump place a 90-day pause on the higher tariffs, except for China. In the pristine Tuileries gardens in front of the Louvre in the French capital, an American couple from Oregon on their first trip to France said they felt a sense of shame and embarrassment as Americans over the tariffs. Rick Wilson, 74, revealed he had taken an unusual step before leaving his hotel that morning by placing a small piece of black tape over the Stars and Stripes flag on his baseball cap.
"We're sick about it. It's horrible. Just horrible," Rick told the BBC.
His wife Barbara, 70, carried a Canadian lapel pin in her pocket - a gift from another tourist - which she thought could come in handy should she feel the need to hide her nationality.
She told the broadcaster: "I'm disappointed in our country. We are upset about the tariffs.”
Another American tourist from New York said he decided to dress differently.
Chris Epps, 56, said: "No New York Yankees hat. I left it in the hotel. People might come up to us, treat us differently. But so far, so good.”
The interviews were carried out before Mr Trump reversed some of his tariffs, according to the BBC report, which added there were no indications that the American tourists were less welcome in Paris than before.
Since entering the White House earlier this year, the Trump administration has wasted no time making significant changes to domestic and international policy.
In Canada, there has been particular anger over Washington’s approach after imposing tariffs and claims by Mr Trump that the country should become the 51st US state.
This led to some Canadian cafes renaming Americano coffees as ‘Candiano’.
