Birmingham's Texan Resident Reveals the One Question She's Always Asked
A Birmingham resident who originally hails from Texas has opened up about the single question she consistently faces from Brits regarding former US President Donald Trump.
Melinda Kaye Woodhouse-Rice, aged 59 and living in the Yardley area of Birmingham, has called the UK home for the past three decades after previously residing in Dallas, Texas.
The Inevitable Trump Question
While Melinda no longer lives in the United States, she has observed that following Donald Trump's second inauguration as President of the United States in 2025, inquiries from British people about her political views have become notably more frequent.
"I do kind of laugh and joke and say 'I didn't vote for Trump. I voted for the two ladies.' I'm not a Trump supporter. Most of my family are not Trump supporters," Melinda told BirminghamLive.
When asked if she ever feels compelled to clarify her lack of support for President Trump, Melinda explained that she sometimes receives a particular look from other Brits that prompts her to address the topic.
Navigating Assumptions and Looks
"You just kind of know, you get this look from someone, especially now. Of course, before [the Presidency] it didn't happen. It's been especially this time around with Trump," she elaborated.
Melinda continued: "People will say, you know, what's up with this Trump? You know? They've never made me feel uncomfortable, but I feel [it], especially if they bring it up or look at me funny."
"Like, 'Oh, so it's your fault' you know? But I didn't vote for him. I don't support him," she added, highlighting the subtle assumptions she sometimes encounters.
Life as an American Expat in Birmingham
Beyond the political questions, Melinda also reflected more broadly on her experience over the last 28 years as a Texan who emigrated from one distinctly different country to another.
She explained that upon moving from Chesterfield to Birmingham in 2007, she found people to be "really friendly" and "welcoming," noting that in various areas of the West Midlands where she has worked, she has had "no problems" as an American woman.
"I've never been to a single part of Birmingham that I've not felt like a normal person in," Melinda stated, expressing her appreciation for the city.
Adding how grateful she is to live in Birmingham, she said: "I've got friends. I've got family here as well. I've got a good career."
Her story underscores the unique perspectives and occasional challenges faced by expatriates, even decades after settling in a new home, while celebrating the welcoming community she has found in Birmingham.
