One of the most common questions international travelers hear is, “Where are you from?” Whenever I travel, I am usually asked this question several times a day by taxi drivers, check-in clerks, servers and fellow travelers.

Before last fall, I usually answered this question easily and without any hesitation. “I’m from the United States,” rolled off my tongue easily. My response was normally met with a neutral response or questions about traveling in the States.

However, there has been a marked shift since the November 2024 election. I’ve been to three countries since Donald Trump was elected president: the United Arab Emirates (UAE), India and Iceland. On my first trip to the UAE, I noticed my voice dropped to a whisper when I told people that I was from the U.S. I looked down, ashamed and scared of where my country was headed. By the time I landed in India, I had started adding, “But I didn’t vote for him!” after I disclosed my American roots.

Some people laughed, and others said, “Of course not.” However, many people looked as uncomfortable as I felt, unsure how to respond themselves.

Shortly after Trump’s inauguration, I went to Iceland, a place where residents pride themselves on being a welcoming and open country. The main road in Iceland is painted as a rainbow. It’s a powerful symbol ― a stark contrast to Trump’s attacks on diversity, equity and inclusion efforts back home.

Before I boarded my flight, I gave a lot of thought about how to tell people where I was from. I wanted to be honest but make it clear that I didn’t support Trump without making anyone uncomfortable. When I started my trip, Trump had begun “flooding the zone” by targeting immigrants, trans people and other marginalized groups. I went from being ashamed to mortified.

I started my trip by telling people I was from North America, which I don’t think fooled anyone. Because I have Polish citizenship, I pivoted to telling people that I was Polish but lived in the U.S. While technically accurate, it didn’t feel like an honest answer. I don’t speak a word of Polish, and the truth usually came out quickly.

To make matters worse, Iceland is close to Greenland, a country Trump has repeatedly said he wants to buy. During my trip, I met several Greenlanders and had to fight an impulse to tell them I understood that their country was not for sale. I was grateful when someone lightened the mood by joking that he was glad to be from the tiny Nordic country of the Faroe Islands because he didn’t think Trump could find it on a map. While I appreciated the humor, I still didn’t feel any better about being an American abroad.

I left Iceland still unsure how to answer the seemingly innocuous question of “Where are you from?” And it turns out I’m not the only one feeling this way. Do one cursory internet search, and you’ll see numerous Reddit threads and comments about people grappling with the same struggle.

It isn’t just trying to hide your concerns over politics, either; whether it be for safety or simple privacy, there are plenty of reasons you may hesitate to share where you’re from. Below, travel and etiquette experts break down how to politely navigate this conversation when you’re abroad.

Should you lie about being from the United States?

Honesty is usually the best policy. “As tempting as it is to pretend to be Canadian when traveling abroad, doing so is not helping to improve the image of Americans,” said Erin Zhurkin, who has lived in five countries and is the author of “Plus-Size in Paris.”

The person you are speaking with might figure out very quickly that you are lying. They may recognize your accent or become suspicious if you aren’t able to answer follow-up questions about the country you are trying to represent, added Francesca Elisabetta Owens, who spends five months of the year outside of the U.S. and is the founder of the travel agency Travel from the Inside Out.

Moreover, if the truth comes out, lying might solidify a negative impression of Americans and make matters worse, Zhurkin said.

Travel agent Theresa Bauman doesn’t lie about where she is from. However, if she wants to be more discreet, she responds with the name of the state where she lives. This tends to prompt people to ask questions related to geography instead of politics, she said.

Nevertheless, Bauman noted she would lie about being American if she felt her safety was at risk.

If you really don’t want to disclose where you are from, you can say you are “just a traveler exploring the world,” or say, “I’ve lived in a few different places, so it’s a bit hard to pinpoint just one,” suggested Salvador Ordorica, the founder of a translation and cultural understanding company.

If you give vague responses, most people will understand you don’t want to answer the question and won’t ask follow-up questions, he said.

What’s the most polite way to discuss politics when you’re abroad?

When in an unfamiliar setting, etiquette expert Lisa Marie Grotts suggested having responses ready that aren’t alienating or offensive. Being prepared can help you maintain control of the conversation, she said. This is especially important when you are unsure how someone feels about the current state of American politics.

“You might be surprised at how many foreigners actually support the current administration and are in favor of it,” Owens noted.

According to Grotts, a response as simple as “it’s complicated” or “every country faces its own challenges” acknowledges the divisiveness of American politics in a neutral way.

Ordorica suggests steering the conversation toward shared experiences. You can disclose you are an American and add, “But right now, I’m just excited to be exploring this part of the world.” This will shift the conversation away from the U.S. and toward the part of the world you are visiting, he said.

However, not everyone wants to remain neutral. Some people might signal that they strongly agree or disagree with Trump’s policies.

When Zhurkin lived in Paris during Trump’s first administration, she said she had trouble as an American abroad. Zhurkin regularly had to deal with some “disdain and judgment for how Americans allowed this to happen.”

She chose to use humor to lighten the mood. After disclosing that she was an American, Zhurkin would often add, “The people have spoken, but I’m not one of those people,” or, “No country is perfect.”

After disclosing your nationality, you can also ask, “Why do you think I’m here and not there?” to signal your disagreement if that’s what you choose, Bauman said.

If you want to steer the conversation away from politics, Ordorica suggested saying, “I try to focus on the people and culture rather than politics when I travel.” You could also say, “I’m just here for the food and adventure,” he suggested. You could follow up by asking questions about great restaurants or activities in the area.

Instead of trying to rationalize the state of affairs in America or cover up your nationality, you can use your time aboard to demonstrate that not all Americans are alike, noted Adaline Kuroki, a digital nomad and founder of the travel agency Savor and Soak.

“We can absolutely show that Americans can be culturally curious and respectful, in addition to the openness and optimism we are known for,” without lying about who we are, she said.