The World Cup is back in North America for the first time since 1994, with the United States, Canada, and Mexico sharing hosting duties.
And with matches taking place in cities across the U.S. – from New York to Los Angeles, Chicago to Dallas, and plenty in between – millions of tourists from around the globe have arrived in the States for the first time.
If you’ve spent any time on social media in the last week, your feed has likely been full of feel-good stories documenting foreigners as they experience all the U.S. has to offer. On Wednesday’s show, Megyn was joined by National Review’s Rich Lowry and Charles C.W. Cooke to discuss the viral content and why it is resonating so deeply.
Feel-Good Fun
Whether its Scotland’s “Tartan Army” taking over Boston with bagpipes, kilts, and Fenway singalongs or “Freddy from Germany” documenting his awe of fast food, the NBA Finals, and southern hospitality as he roadtripped to Houston to watch, the viral posts have been a heartwarming reminder of what makes America great.
“They are so joyful,” Megyn said. “It’s so great to listen to these guys because they are experiencing our country for the first time, and it gives you the chance to see some of the things we take for granted through fresh eyes. It’s wonderful.”
On CNN, Jake Tapper interviewed a German tourist who admitted just how stark a contrast there has been between perception and reality. “In Europe, we have had a lot of rather negative news about the Americans in the last five years,” he said. “And I think we are all enjoying the fact that this country is so great to visit. People are amazing, so welcoming, the culture is amazing… Europeans are getting a new view of America right now… and that’s cool.”
Cooke, who immigrated to the U.S. from England, said he has been moved by the reactions because of how closely he relates to them. “I love this because this is how I feel, of course, as well,” he shared. “But the thing that I like the most about it is less that Americans who didn’t like America to start with are seeing people like America, they should have already known; but the Europeans who are coming here are having the propaganda they have been sold wiped away.”
“I really must implore Americans to understand that what Europeans are told about America all the time by the news, but also by entertainment, is relentlessly negative. It bears no resemblance to what America is actually like, to what Americans are actually like… And then to come to the United States and see what it’s actually like must be absolutely astonishing… It must completely rewire your worldview,” Cooke continued. “It is just great to watch this because the only way you can really get past all of that negative propaganda is to come and visit yourself.”
Lowry agreed. “They are stunned, especially given… what they hear from the European press, which is all guns, violence, things they don’t like about Trump,” he noted. “[And then they] come here to this land that is so abundant, that is so open, that is so convenient, that is so friendly.”
Important Reminder
He believes the World Cup and this cultural immersion it has fostered could not have come at a better time. “One of the most depressing things about the country is… we had this polling [that] shows people who are extremely or very proud of America… is down to, I think, a new low of 56 percent if you have those two categories up, and then the Democrats’ numbers are just in the toilet,” he said.
“You should be so filled with gratitude for being here in this country at this time and place,” Lowry said. “And if it takes Europeans coming over here and discovering free refills and that you can actually get ice in your soda, so be it. It’s a great thing.”
You can check out Megyn’s full interview with Cooke and Lowry by tuning in to episode 1,341 on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you like to listen. And don’t forget that you can catch The Megyn Kelly Show live on SiriusXM’s The Megyn Kelly Channel (channel 111) weekdays from 12pm to 2pm ET.