What I’m hearing on the ground in Canada is not the same in kind and in degree what I was hearing eight years ago. In 2016 people were expecting a clown show, now they are expecting malicious chaos, disruptions, instability, shortages, and violence. This is apples and oranges.
With all due respect, Chris, I don’t think you really have an accurate reading of what is happening outside the USA. For example, in your initial post, you claimed that 99% of foreigners viewed various American politicians as indistinguishable, interchangeable “clowns.” The international Pew research shared above shows that this a totally inaccurate take on how outsiders view the current situation within the United States.