Between boycotts, protests, and general animosity, the U.S. might be more unpopular internationally now than any time since the days of the Iraq War. Welcome to Pariahmerica.
The only thing more American than baseball and apple pie might be the Statue of Liberty. It’s a universally identifiable bit of iconography, appearing on stamps, currency and Planet of the Apes movies since time immemorial. The blue-green, toga-clad Lady Liberty is a sturdy symbol of democracy, independence, and the land of opportunity. And in 2025, an official from the country who gifted America the statue has asked for it back—the latest sign that America, the brand, is becoming toxic.
