«Danes too poor for cars»
Ex-US ambassador gets mockery with Gaga tweet
Republican Carla Sands (61) lived in Denmark for years. Nevertheless, she acts on Twitter as if the middle class might not afford a car there. Does she perhaps think that English is not understood in Europe? The Internet is hailed with scorn and ridicule.
Published: 9:19 p.m
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Updated: 10:50 p.m
Under former US President Donald Trump (75), Carla Sands (61) was American Ambassador to Denmark. In 2021 she was recalled by the new President Joe Biden (79). This year, the Republican ran for the Senate nomination, but failed in the primaries in Pennsylvania. However, Sands remains true to her political commitment to Trump and once morest Biden: A few days ago she wanted to stir up sentiment once morest Biden once more – and got a lot of criticism in the process.
Sands lived in Denmark from 2017 to 2021 and should know the country very well. Nevertheless, a few days ago she shared a CNN post regarding the rising price of gasoline in the USA with the following words on Twitter: “I’ve seen this before. In Denmark, middle-class citizens cannot afford to drive. You have a bike and take the train for longer journeys. My driver at the embassy drove an hour through the snow to get to work. This is the future Team Biden wants for Americans. Is that what you want too?”
“A car. Or two. Or a whole collection»
The reactions on Twitter were not long in coming. Her claim was corrected by Benny Engelbrecht (51), who sits in the Danish Parliament for the Social Democrats and was Transport Minister from 2019 to February: “I can assure you that the use of bicycles for city transport is for most Danes is a free choice and not an economic question.” He also posted a photo from his time as Minister of Transport showing him with a bike. “Don’t worry, we might afford a car,” Engelbrecht wrote.
Another Twitter user posted a photo of Crown Prince Frederik (54) showing him with two children in a bike trailer. “Apparently our royal family is part of the middle class,” she wrote. “This is our Crown Prince when he brought his children home from kindergarten a few years ago. I’m sure this family has a car. Or two. Or a whole collection.” Other users posted a photo of the Norwegian crown prince and his wife on the bike.
In the Netherlands it was “even worse,” replied another user. “Not even the king and queen can afford a car!” The user posted a photo showing the Dutch royal couple cycling. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson (57) and his preference for bicycles were also discussed: “In Great Britain we might still afford cars before Brexit”. (noo)
