British ex-postman Paul Cross has been impersonating Donald Trump since 2016 and owns Trump Tower Thailand bar in Pattaya – but claims he’s faced threats and attacks for his views
A British Donald Trump impersonator who runs a bar dedicated to the former US president in a Thai beach resort claims he has been “spat at” and threatened due to his views.
Ex-postman Paul Cros, originally from Bristol, alleges to have been subjected to verbal and physical assaults since launching Trump Tower Thailand on Jomtien Beach, near Pattaya last August.
But the 64-year-old expat, who has lived in the South East Asian nation since 2006, is unabashed in his admiration for the ex-commander-in-chief. He said: “I am pro Trump and pro America.”
He claimed that while confidently wearing his signature MAGA cap, blue suit and red tie last October, an American tourist spat at him and attempted to punch him. But he walked away from the irate critic to avoid conflict.
The expat quipped: “I’ve had my teeth done and Botox. I’ve spent a lot of money on this face, so it wasn’t worth fighting.”
Paul’s open support of Trump has sparked four negative encounters in public, including one where a fellow Brit insulted his hometown. He has also become a target of hatred on social media, with some users sending him death threats. But he maintains his views are well received in many circles, not least among the “tolerant” locals who enjoy seeing him dressed as Trump.
He said: “I walked down Pattaya’s Walking Street where all the clubs are and everyone bought me beers.
“There’s a famous club called Insomnia and the pole dancer bought me a drink. It’s very rare that the girls buy you a drink.”
He continued: “Thailand is probably the only country where I could have a bar like this one. Thais are lovely, tolerant people.
“A postman in his hometown for 22 years, Paul first travelled to the South East Asian nation in 1991 and was so enamoured he returned four times annually for holidays.
Since making the significant move in 2006, he has managed two other bars before the current venture he refers to as “my last chance saloon”. He launched Trump Tower Thailand last summer after parting ways with his wife of nine years. He jests that he sells his Trump shirts and other merchandise with a health warning, but assures that Democrats are welcome in his bar.
Paul wrote to The Trump Organisation last November to inform them about his bar’s theme and extensive use of Trump merchandise. He said: “They could have closed us down in seconds, but I have had no reply, so I assume they are happy about the bar.
“Trump is trying to bring peace around the world and the US is the only country with the power to achieve that. Many Russian tourists ask to be photographed with me. They like a strong leader.”
Paul, who has raised thousands of dollars for local charities, said his bar has become a tourist attraction and describes it as an old-school bar where no subject is taboo. He said: “An American came in one day and said it was the first bar in Thailand where he had felt welcome as everyone loves to hate Americans.
“I am looking forward to the future. This is my last-chance saloon really.”
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