Why do Americans think the French hate them?

Question

When I debated with Americans on this site, they says me "You French you hate us, but we saved your ass during the second world war". And honestly I wonder on what basis this observation, I have never heard a French say something bad about the USA, better many of them will dream of being part of the American empire as we used to be part of Roman Empire. Tell me your opinion about it lol

nightdrot · Accepted Answer

Actually, most Americans probably do not give it much thought beyond a generic feeling that "Europeans," - perhaps excepting the British - do not like Americans very much. In your case, on this site, you are dealing with people who it may be assumed are more passionate in their views. Thus, they are engaging with you to begin with, elsewise they would probably let matters lie.

Further, for what it is worth, Americans are actually taught in school at a fairly early age that France was their ally in the Revolutionary War - and somewhat conflating matters, that she gave us the Statue of Liberty. Indeed, to the extent Americans still study it, it is also pointed out that France was America's de facto ally in the War of 1812. Albeit that they were not formally allies and were engaged in significantly different wars that just happened to coincide in time.

The break, in the popular culture, came with President DeGualle pulling France out of NATO's integrated military structure and his demand that American military bases in France be evacuated. This was understood by most American national leaders as a - cold blooded to be sure - exercise in realpolitik. Indeed, that is why the United States did not diplomatically retaliate at the time.

However, in the American popular imagination, France's actions were seen as deeply ungrateful and even treacherous. As one leading figure put it at the time, "Do the French want us to evacuate the cemeteries too?"

For a people who lived an ocean away. Who had wanted to live their lives and had not much time for the overseas entanglements that were the world wars, however noble the cause, French actions were deeply resented. Americans felt they had been dragged away from their lives, forced to risk those lives and the lives of those they loved, to resolve what, to Americans, seemed like Europe's interminable conflicts and feuds.

Then more recently there have been episodes that seemed to put an exclamation point on the theme. Such as, for example, when President Mitterand, in 1986, refused to grant the transit of American bombers from bases in the UK over French airspace to attack Libya in retaliation for the West Berlin disco terrorist bombing that killed a number of American servicemen. France had its' reasons, but in the American popular mind, to see France seeming to side with Libya's Col. Mu'ammar Al-Qadhdhāfī was, from a public opinion viewpoint, not a good look.

To be sure, most contemporary Americans probably do not recall these episodes. However, the cultural memories linger in the psyche and remain a source of grievance that - when France and the United States, as they invariably will, clash diplomatically from time to time - those resentments surge to the fore and hence the perception you detect in some Americans.

However, it is not a quality peculiar to Americans. Speaking personally, from my German relatives I will still, from time to time, hear a snide remark about the British, the French or some other group. Indeed, you yourself have - speaking personally in our previous exchanges - have made some unflattering remarks about the United States.

None of this is too serious. It is more in the nature of passing remarks and lingering - mostly unconscious - resentments and even a touch of snobbery. (I love hearing my German aunt talk about how "uncouth" Americans can be. I don't take it too seriously and it is kind of funny in its' way. Not least because, in the next breath, she will say something good about the US.)

CONT.

VanillaSalt · Accepted Answer

Never hear about the French… and I’m disgusted by my country right now. Compared to a third world country it might be better in ways but compared to its greatest point it’s a trash heap country right now… the people are rioting and burning down cities because some idiot couldn’t stop when police told him too and he died. From this an entire movement pushing Marxist propaganda piped up claiming to be for blacks but is actually making them look worse. The culture is so god damn diverse I’ve they love everybody but white people… I guess white people are the conquerors of the world and the slave owners or some bullshit and that justifies killing white people. Relationships are down the gutter… feminism makes women think if they act like men they will be happy… women in America have never been more equal (technically overly privileged), had more school degrees, made more money, and…. been simultaneously less happy. Something about being unable to find real men after taking the only thing men were meant to do… provide and protect. The police have started enforcing unlawful actions against citizens… were now in the business of paying terrorists. The idiot in charge of our country has difficulty putting together words into complete sentences and is making up new words… and to top it all off even the French are worried about us.

Joking in the last one but the rest is true. Sry to ruin your view of the American dream but it died years ago.

ItsYoGirlMia · Accepted Answer

they don’t. I’m born in France i grew up there i, my family all our friends we just are very guarded people, we don’t socialize in public, we are very critical though at first… but when we get to know an American or they get to know us, you’ll se we rlly don’t dislike them lol. Funny story when i was visiting family back home in France we saw a group of travellers that are Americans but they had Canadian flags all over bc they don’t want French people knowing they’re American… we could tell they were Americans tho. I don't know i found this hilarious. :)

Anonymous · Accepted Answer

I think its partially true French people view us as stupid and pinch ours butts when we visit their country we get treated not so great on their land

Leavesbound · Answer

I have never thought the French hated us. My grandfather spent a year in France a little over a hundred years ago. He had nothing but good things to say about the French people. My uncle spent a couple of years in France almost eighty years ago and reports the same. My uncle said the people of France were incredibly nice to him. I honestly don't know who you've been talking to because as an American who has spoken to thousands of other Americans I have never once heard anyone say they thought the French hate us. The closest to that is a couple of times I have heard of French people, (I think in Paris) being snobs but I don't think that the snobbish behavior was targeting Americans specifically. France is on my travel bucket list. I would particularly like to spend a few days wandering the Louvre and a couple more at the Bibliothèque nationale. I hear they have an excellent collection on medieval genealogy. And of course I want to sample French cuisine.

darkcloud1945 · Answer

The French are for the French as Americans are for Americans But that said there is an underling love for America that is really not know by people born in the 60s 70 s 80s 90s. To this date at the graves of the tens of thousands American service men killed on the beaches of France the French people have adopted these resting places of our dead they clean and service the grave place flower visit the grave regularly to clean replace worn out flags and flowers and to offer thanks for their freeing them. The people of France regularly keep in contact with the families of the soldiers who died, this has been going since W, W.2 . This is their way of saying thank you. No other country honors our war dead and us in this way.

Guanfei · Answer

We don't hate you, we find your country stupid and dangerous. Note that I don't include people living there, just talking about the country on a political, cultural and societal level.
All the political correctness, race shit and identity politics that are spreading in Europe come from you.
All the stupid shows also come from you, as well as the gangster culture, the "fame hunger" too.
Your country also try to dictate the EU, and through it all its member countries, what business and products they should accept, often with your own conditions.

As Jean-Jacques Urvoas once said: "The US have no allies. Only vassals and enemies".
Note that this also applies to any big power today, such as Russia or China.

MrOracle · Answer

American tourists go to Paris and experience rude waiters and shop keepers and assume that the whole country is that way, when, largely, that's JUST Paris. I know Americans are loved and respected in many other areas of the country. Normandy especially.

dolemite89 · Answer

thats a stereotype i remember being around even back in the 80’s-90s in movies. Like the cliche fat American family in their matching fanny packs showing up to paris acting loud and ignorant asking for directions to the eiffel tower while the boujee, snob french people in their black turtlenecks and sunglasses sipped wine and scoffed at them. 😂

I’ve heard Paris can be rude and pretentious but i don’t care where u go there’s a lot of majors cities that have rude people like that. It would be like basing your opinion of americans solely on a visit to New York or San Francisco. i don’t know how the french could hate us when. We love jean-claude vandamme here so much 🤣

hellionthesagereborn · Answer

Because every American I have spoken to who has visited france has stated how they are constantly treated badly by them as well as my experiences with them online has suggested they do not like america as well (though not as much as scandinavians and germans, they hate us the most for some reason). Hell even refering to us as an empire which we are absolutely not, suggests at least some disdain for the US.

ZackBan · Answer

Well I am neither American nor am I French but I am currently doing my studies in France and I can tell you from a foreigner perspective french people tend to come off as rude if taken at face value and Americans take everything at face value. The whole situation is a misunderstanding considering French are decent people if you take the time to meet them and the vast majority of them embrace then American culture and try to emulate it only with free Healthcare

KrakenAttackin · Answer

Actually when we saved the French during WW II, we were repaying the debt from when the French saved us from the British during our own revolutionary war.

libsaretards · Answer

Because of how we get treated when we travel to France. However, I do not think it is because we are American as much as it is because we are foreigners. The French tend to look down on foreigners in their homeland, especially those who cannot speak French.

EmbraceThePain · Answer

Because these Americans have looked into certain media and came to the conclusion that all of France, generally, hates America. I do not think this way.

NYlatefun · Answer

I think it’s a love-hate relationship. French culture and American culture are as opposite as they can be. French are all about enjoying life, good food, good time, good taste. And Americans unfortunately for the most part have terrible taste and are way too practical. But French do admire many things about Americans.

Gray-Wisp · Answer

We think that the French hate literally everyone else.

monkeynutts · Answer

Hate is a strong word, misunderstood, might be a better word, but just because you might not agree with a particular persons opinions or like an individuals personality does not mean you hate them because they are American, or English, or any other nationality.

SpaceGalaxy · Answer

Your comments could not be further from the truth. I have no idea what planet you live in but on this planet, the majority (not all, but the majority) of French people (specially the older generation) think really low of Americans and refer to them as "dumb cowboys" There may be exceptions and you may talk to an American or two who have traveled to France and did not experience this hatred, but generally speaking, The French consider Americans low-class Cowboys!

NightHawk99 · Answer

We Americans are retarded. We like to make stereotypes based on the first few faces we see. Lol

Anonymous · Answer

Speak for yourself
Not everyone "wants to be a part of the American empire"
I can think of several things wrong with the US, but that's another topic
And history has proven that all empires fall one day. The same thing happened to the Roman empire, Aztecs, Chinese, Greeks

Overmind · Answer

I would take what average Americans say with a grain of salt, many are ignorant (lack of knowledge) & the next time one tells you that respond by saying you saved their ass in the American revolution so its all squared.

Anonymous · Answer

I lived in france for a year, and they LEGIT hate Trump and Americans for voting for him. I bet the attitude has changed though since Trump lost the election...

Anonymous · Answer

Had visited Nice last time and I asked the guy something he made a big grumpy face, then when I came out of the shop a lady told me most of the french people are arrogant, if you don't speak to them in french they won't help you and will ignore you in an instant if you speak to them in English. I was like wtf are you serious lol

Avicenna · Answer

People in the US think the French look down on them, that's what they mean, plus they're aware of the anti-US nature of the European Union.

SlightlyEccentric · Answer

Nah I never thought so. We love our cheese eating, surrender monkeys.

worldscolide · Answer

I personally think its a stereotype that is not based in reality.. I do know that the people that seem to hat the US the most are idiotic leftists and their democrat cronies.

loveslongnails · Answer

LOL Because the French hate everyone who isn't French, and even then, that's not always good enough. LOL

Anonymous · Answer

I've heard the stereotype, but never quite understood it myself. If I had to guess, it has something to do with us not helping during the French revolution

JediSisko · Answer

I was just under the impression we were just hated in general for no reason than what is told us by media.

Browneye57 · Answer

It's a lot of poppycock. Just move on with your life.

Juxtapose · Answer

The French hate us so much they literally won the Revolutionary War for us lol.

anonyni · Answer

Everybody I know who has gone to France said the French treat them and all tourists like shit. I don't know the merit of that statement, but that seems to be the origin.

pink_and_inlove · Answer

Rumors lol but I think Americans feel like every country hates them sometimes 😂

jimmy2 · Answer

I am an American i dont hate French in fact i would love a French woman

DeltaCharlieEcho · Answer

When my dad was in the military and would travel through France, the French would spit at them.

Maxnanet · Answer

I am french and i never had that vibe with americans tho

grega239 · Answer

I don't know about the french, but where im from most people dont really like america or its people

lpoots · Answer

americans hate every other nation  why should the french be excluded

ItsMeItsMe1989 · Answer

Because a lot of americans hate evrerybody I don't, thank god

michael1469 · Answer

Because the frenxh dont like... American fries.

Anonymous · Answer

news flash, a lot of countries think America is stupid

MCheetah · Answer

Was my comment deleted?

Kaneki05 · Answer

Because they don't have a better arugument?

fonduegirl · Answer

Prejudices passed on generations.

TonyMetal___86 · Answer

Are you a french girl? 🥴

Aether1 · Answer

I can't imagine what he's talking about.

JesseJayNeak · Answer

Sometimes friends, sometime rivals

SuckMyDrn · Answer

French doesn't like us, not Americans lol

loliconisgood · Answer

They do

Why do Americans think the French hate them?

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Why do Americans think France hates them?

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Why do Americans think France hates them?

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