In Spanish culture, there is a saying: “en los pequeños detalles se ve la persona,” translating to the person is revealed in the small details. This notion was evident during a recent gathering of the Group of 7 leaders in France, where interactions between two key figures stood out.

The first figure is Donald Trump, who despite his global influence, sometimes conveys a different impression. He recently remarked to a journalist about Giorgia Meloni, the right-wing Italian Prime Minister. Trump claimed that Meloni had “begged” for a photo with him, expressing pity as his reason for obliging.

Meloni responded promptly. She labeled Trump’s comments as “totally invented.” In a social media video, she expressed confusion about why Trump behaves this way toward allies. Meloni noted that his leniency appears reserved for Western and U.S. adversaries. Highlighting national pride, Meloni added, “I never beg — and neither does Italy.”

In assessing who is truthful, one might consider a broader context of integrity and courage. This incident teaches a crucial lesson for Americans as they approach their nation’s 250th anniversary: if you care about America, there might be moments that spark a cringe.

Cultural cringing goes beyond mere physical discomfort. It reflects compassion and empathy. You might cringe at a child’s stage mishap or at awkward social situations. It’s about feeling connected to the human experience, even in humiliation. This is comparable to how some felt for Jill Biden during her husband’s debate challenges.

Living in America during the Trump era can feel like a constant cringe — spanning moral, aesthetic, intellectual, and political domains. His administration could be compared to a mix of absurd theatrical productions and film scripts, neither tragedy nor farce, but a peculiar blend of surreal narratives.