How can there be there earning back respect? The US is a two party system, so even if there's a good president a few years later the next bozo comes around drives things back to shit again.

Trump has managed to terminally damage transatlantic relationships, this will result in a new world order in the long run. Over here in the EU thinking about sovereignty is suddenly a thing, getting independent of others.

There can be trade with the US in the future, but no trust anymore. Interestingly the long term view is viewing the US a lot like China, someone whom you cooperate with economically but do not trust on a political level.

Of course a less shitty period in governance would ease things a bit over, but there's no way the next guy like Trump will grab power in 10 years or so. The American political system is built in a way that it just flip-flops between the big parties. IMO the population and elections are just a minor side function of this.

As fucked up as out system is over here, I'm fucking happy we have a parliament and not "winner takes it all". At least it feels a bit like voters have a bit of influence.

I don't see that happening without mayor political reforms. There's no way to regain trust when it's possible for an even bigger idiot to come into power and undo it all a few years later.

doing my best to act that way to your country

please return the favour if we follow in your footsteps in a few years. we're getting scary amounts of far-right shit up here

And the people who hurt the most from the find out phase? Black and brown people, transgender people, women, etc. The tired and weak. It aint the rich who find out when the rich fuck around.