St. Croix visit provides an escape and insight into what those in U.S. territories think about President Donald Trump.

I’ve been far away from our Capital Region these past snowy days of February. To the easternmost tip of the United States territories, actually: St. Croix, in the U.S. Virgin Islands.

It’s an idyllic Island, with cerulean seas, a low-key vibe, and not too much commercialization. But even here, no one can escape the realities of what’s going on in faraway Washington.

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Everyone is unfailingly polite on the island. Conversations begin with “good morning,” “good afternoon” or “good night.” You are expected to exchange a few pleasantries before launching into the point of your conversation.

But underneath the relaxed atmosphere, there’s unease, even shock, over the deluge of actions that have sent many other Americans’ heads spinning.

The forays into Americans’ personal data by Elon Musk, President Donald Trump’s declaration that Gaza should be forcibly cleared of its inhabitants and replaced by luxury resorts — there’s a significant Palestinian population here — and the attempted decimation of USAID all have deeply worried many here. Among the members of the group that I am traveling with, it’s been a near-constant source of conversation.

One woman I met here is a masseuse with a thriving business who moved to St. Croix,........

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