--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I feel, for the first time, ashamed to be…" description: "\"I feel, for the first time, ashamed to be an American because we elected [Donald Trump].\" — Ansel Elgort" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2ff/ansel-elgort-14696_ashamed_i-feel-for-the-first-time-ashamed-to-be_999111.jpg" --- # I feel, for the first time, ashamed to be an American… ![“I feel, for the first time, ashamed to be an American because we elected [Donald Trump].” quote by Ansel Elgort](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2ff/ansel-elgort-14696_ashamed_i-feel-for-the-first-time-ashamed-to-be_999111.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2ff/ansel-elgort-14696_ashamed_i-feel-for-the-first-time-ashamed-to-be_999111.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2ff/ansel-elgort-14696_ashamed_i-feel-for-the-first-time-ashamed-to-be_999111.jpg) > “I feel, for the first time, ashamed to be an American because we elected \[Donald Trump\].” [Ansel Elgort](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ansel-elgort/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Feeling ashamed of one's country due to political choices reflects deep disappointment and a crisis of identity. **In simple terms:** Disappointed with national leadership. Key Takeaway Reflect on values and civic engagement. Themes politics identity disillusionment Mood somber thoughtful Type reflective philosophical When to use this quote - elections - public protests - media consumption - community dialogue Key Concepts civic responsibility nationalism Questions to Reflect On - What actions can you take to improve the situation? - How do you reconcile personal values with national identity? A Different Perspective Pride can coexist with criticism; change is possible. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ashamed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ashamed/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [For the first time, I am ashamed to be a German.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilhelm-ii/for-the-first-time-i-am-ashamed-to-be-a-german/) [Wilhelm II](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilhelm-ii/) > [To see an African-American elected president means that this country is really finally coming full circle from the birth defect of slavery.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/condoleezza-rice/to-see-an-african-american-elected-president-means-that-this-country/) [Condoleezza Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/condoleezza-rice/) > [Are things getting better with each generation? Yes. It's quite interesting to be living in these times, for me to witness an African-American being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lenny-kravitz/are-things-getting-better-with-each-generation-yes-it-s-quite/) [Lenny Kravitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lenny-kravitz/) > [I am proud to be the first Hindu American to have been elected to Congress and now the first Hindu American to run for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tulsi-gabbard/i-am-proud-to-be-the-first-hindu-american-to-have-been-elected-to/) [Tulsi Gabbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tulsi-gabbard/) > [For a long time I was ashamed of the way I lived. Did I reform, you ask? No. I'm not ashamed anymore.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mae-west/for-a-long-time-i-was-ashamed-of-the-way-i-lived-did-i-reform-you-ask/) [Mae West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mae-west/) > [When you create stuff, you're always going to be progressing and where you're at a year down the line, as the creator, it's always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-odell/when-you-create-stuff-you-re-always-going-to-be-progressing-and-where/) [Tom Odell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-odell/) > [I am ashamed to be an American. And the title of U.S. soldier is just the lie of fools,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bowe-bergdahl/i-am-ashamed-to-be-an-american-and-the-title-of-u-s-soldier-is-just/) Bowe Bergdahl > [Israel means war and destruction and we Americans are behind this war and I am ashamed of being American.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-hopkins/israel-means-war-and-destruction-and-we-americans-are-behind-this-war/) [Anthony Hopkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-hopkins/) > [Because of the Republicans, I'm not ashamed of being an American. I'm embarrassed!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-maher/because-of-the-republicans-i-m-not-ashamed-of-being-an-american-i-m/) [Bill Maher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-maher/) > [I was a little bit ashamed of American TV because I thought, 'None of the shows my father works on are as funny as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joss-whedon/i-was-a-little-bit-ashamed-of-american-tv-because-i-thought-none-of/) [Joss Whedon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joss-whedon/) > [I grew up in L.A. and started recording here first and it felt very different than when I went to Long Pond for the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gracie-abrams/i-grew-up-in-l-a-and-started-recording-here-first-and-it-felt-very/) [Gracie Abrams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gracie-abrams/) > [It was my first time in prison. I was there to volunteer with Defy Ventures, along with 500 teammates Tara Graham, Brian Wang, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-tsai/it-was-my-first-time-in-prison-i-was-there-to-volunteer-with-defy/) [Christine Tsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-tsai/) > [You never meet the writer when you're making a TV movie in America - they're too ashamed to show up and see how their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-don-baker/you-never-meet-the-writer-when-you-re-making-a-tv-movie-in-america/) [Joe Don Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-don-baker/) > [I know what you're thinking... and you oughtta be ashamed of yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-preston/i-know-what-you-re-thinking-and-you-oughtta-be-ashamed-of-yourself/) Robert Preston > [If my child had prejudice in his head, I'd be ashamed. I would see it as my failure as a parent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salman-rushdie/if-my-child-had-prejudice-in-his-head-i-d-be-ashamed-i-would-see-it/) [Salman Rushdie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salman-rushdie/) ## More by Ansel Elgort > [Success is being artistically fulfilled and happy. You can't control how people see your movie or how much money it makes...and the same thing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ansel-elgort/success-is-being-artistically-fulfilled-and-happy-you-can-t-control/) [Ansel Elgort](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ansel-elgort/) > [ We need to also act out, and anything that \[Donald\] Trump does, anything he's trying to do that we don't agree with or anything… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ansel-elgort/we-need-to-also-act-out-and-anything-that-donald-trump-does-anything/) [Ansel Elgort](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ansel-elgort/) > [Donald Trump as a figurehead is the opposite of that - he's regression, he's taking a step backward.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ansel-elgort/donald-trump-as-a-figurehead-is-the-opposite-of-that-he-s-regression/) [Ansel Elgort](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ansel-elgort/) > [As much as politicians, any politicians, Democrat or Republican, are saying they're trying to help the schools, it's hard because our country is in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ansel-elgort/as-much-as-politicians-any-politicians-democrat-or-republican-are/) [Ansel Elgort](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ansel-elgort/) > [From an early age, I understood the concept that, if you're not the star, then your job is to not pull attention away from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ansel-elgort/from-an-early-age-i-understood-the-concept-that-if-you-re-not-the/) [Ansel Elgort](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ansel-elgort/) > [I think my voice would be great as a protestor but also it would be, and has been, very powerful for charity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ansel-elgort/i-think-my-voice-would-be-great-as-a-protestor-but-also-it-would-be/) [Ansel Elgort](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ansel-elgort/) > [Why go around dating random girls and having terrible sex when you can be with someone you really like?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ansel-elgort/why-go-around-dating-random-girls-and-having-terrible-sex-when-you/) [Ansel Elgort](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ansel-elgort/) > [I write music because I love it. Sometimes more than anything in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ansel-elgort/i-write-music-because-i-love-it-sometimes-more-than-anything-in-the/) [Ansel Elgort](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ansel-elgort/) > [My dad was always taking photos of us at home, and even on set - he'd bring us along and stick us in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ansel-elgort/my-dad-was-always-taking-photos-of-us-at-home-and-even-on-set-he-d/) [Ansel Elgort](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ansel-elgort/) > [As an actor, you want a director who makes you feel comfortable in a place that you can really create and try a lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ansel-elgort/as-an-actor-you-want-a-director-who-makes-you-feel-comfortable-in-a/) [Ansel Elgort](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ansel-elgort/) > [When I was nine, I started doing ballet. That's when I knew that I was down to keep doing it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ansel-elgort/when-i-was-nine-i-started-doing-ballet-that-s-when-i-knew-that-i-was/) [Ansel Elgort](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ansel-elgort/) > [I'm trying to have no regrets. I'm starting to learn about myself and how to live. As an actor, part of the job is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ansel-elgort/i-m-trying-to-have-no-regrets-i-m-starting-to-learn-about-myself-and/) [Ansel Elgort](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ansel-elgort/) > [As America, we aren't the country that we should be with Donald Trump as president.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ansel-elgort/as-america-we-aren-t-the-country-that-we-should-be-with-donald-trump/) [Ansel Elgort](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ansel-elgort/) > [I'm starting to get a following on Twitter. That's a really awesome power to have. It gives me the opportunity to make any kind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ansel-elgort/i-m-starting-to-get-a-following-on-twitter-that-s-a-really-awesome/) [Ansel Elgort](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ansel-elgort/) > [If you don't know my name and you don't know what movie I'm from, don't come ask for a picture while I'm trying to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ansel-elgort/if-you-don-t-know-my-name-and-you-don-t-know-what-movie-i-m-from-don/) [Ansel Elgort](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ansel-elgort/) [Explore all 45 Ansel Elgort quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ansel-elgort/) ## More Ashamed quotes > [If my child had prejudice in his head, I'd be ashamed. I would see it as my failure as a parent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salman-rushdie/if-my-child-had-prejudice-in-his-head-i-d-be-ashamed-i-would-see-it/) [Salman Rushdie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salman-rushdie/) > [I know what you're thinking... and you oughtta be ashamed of yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-preston/i-know-what-you-re-thinking-and-you-oughtta-be-ashamed-of-yourself/) Robert Preston > [You never meet the writer when you're making a TV movie in America - they're too ashamed to show up and see how their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-don-baker/you-never-meet-the-writer-when-you-re-making-a-tv-movie-in-america/) [Joe Don Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-don-baker/) > [I'm not ashamed of the things I believe and why I believe them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-huckabee/i-m-not-ashamed-of-the-things-i-believe-and-why-i-believe-them/) [Mike Huckabee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-huckabee/) > [If, with all the time at my disposal, with all the wealth of the resources of this vast universe, to do with as I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/if-with-all-the-time-at-my-disposal-with-all-the-wealth-of-the/) [Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/) > [“with her own life. And I was ashamed.” Humiliated. Broken. Miserable. If Wilcher had stood by Jaymee, if her father hadn’t berated her, if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stacy-green/with-her-own-life-and-i-was-ashamed-humiliated-broken-miserable-if/) Stacy Green > [You should avoid hedging, at least that's what I think. You should be ashamed to die until you've made some contribution to mankind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vernon-johns/you-should-avoid-hedging-at-least-that-s-what-i-think-you-should-be/) Vernon Johns > [There was no mistake in us making abortion legal and available on demand. That was what we call progress. Just like it was no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-ruffalo/there-was-no-mistake-in-us-making-abortion-legal-and-available-on/) [Mark Ruffalo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-ruffalo/) > [“When all are undressed, one is somehow not ashamed, but when one's the only one undressed and everybody is looking, it's degrading,' he kept…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fyodor-dostoyevsky/when-all-are-undressed-one-is-somehow-not-ashamed-but-when-one-s-the/) [Fyodor Dostoyevsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fyodor-dostoyevsky/) > [There are a great many colored people who are ashamed of the cake-walk, but I think they ought to be proud of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-weldon-johnson/there-are-a-great-many-colored-people-who-are-ashamed-of-the-cake/) [James Weldon Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-weldon-johnson/) > [I love him who is ashamed when the dice fall in his favour, and who then asketh: "Am I a dishonest player?" - for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/i-love-him-who-is-ashamed-when-the-dice-fall-in-his-favour-and-who/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [“Whoever is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his glory and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zondervan-publishing/whoever-is-ashamed-of-me-and-my-words-the-son-of-man-will-be-ashamed/) [Zondervan Publishing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zondervan-publishing/) > [You were never created to live depressed, defeated, guilty, condemned, ashamed or unworthy. You were created to be victorious.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/you-were-never-created-to-live-depressed-defeated-guilty-condemned/) [Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/) > [I never wonder to see men wicked, but I often wonder to see them not ashamed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-swift/i-never-wonder-to-see-men-wicked-but-i-often-wonder-to-see-them-not/) [Jonathan Swift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-swift/) > [“To survive during the Khmer Rouge, you had to steal, cheat, lie, point fingers at others, even kill. And now you are ashamed.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-brinkley/to-survive-during-the-khmer-rouge-you-had-to-steal-cheat-lie-point/) [Joel Brinkley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-brinkley/) [Browse all 1,607 Ashamed quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ashamed/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I feel, for the first time, ashamed to be an American because we elected [Donald Trump].", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ansel Elgort" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ansel-elgort/i-feel-for-the-first-time-ashamed-to-be-an-american-because-we/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Ashamed" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ansel-elgort/i-feel-for-the-first-time-ashamed-to-be-an-american-because-we/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2ff/ansel-elgort-14696_ashamed_i-feel-for-the-first-time-ashamed-to-be_999111.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2ff/ansel-elgort-14696_ashamed_i-feel-for-the-first-time-ashamed-to-be_999111.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2ff/ansel-elgort-14696_ashamed_i-feel-for-the-first-time-ashamed-to-be_999111.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I feel, for the first time, ashamed to be an American because we elected [Donald Trump].” — Ansel Elgort", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Ansel Elgort", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ansel-elgort/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I feel, for the first time,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ansel-elgort/i-feel-for-the-first-time-ashamed-to-be-an-american-because-we/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ansel-elgort/i-feel-for-the-first-time-ashamed-to-be-an-american-because-we/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```