Brit who looks like Donald Trump is ‘spat at and threatened’ but says Russians love him

Ex-postman Paul Cross, from Bristol, opened Trump Tower Thailand in Pattaya last summer – and says he’s faced threats and abuse, but visitors from Putin’s Russia ‘love’ him

A British Donald Trump impersonator who runs a bar dedicated to the former US president claims he has been “spat at” and threatened because of his views.

Former postman Paul Cross alleges he has faced both verbal and physical attacks since opening Trump Tower Thailand on Jomtien Beach, near Pattaya, last August. But despite being from Bristol, the 64-year-old expat – who has called the South East Asian nation home since 2006 – has spoken in support of the US president, describing him as “pro Trump and pro America.”

He claimed that while sporting his trademark MAGA cap, blue suit and red tie last October, an American tourist spat at him and tried to punch him. He chose to walk away rather than escalate the situation.

The expat joked: “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 vocal support for Trump has led to four hostile confrontations in public, including one incident where a fellow British tourist insulted his home city, the Daily Star.

But he insists his views are warmly received in many quarters, particularly amongst the “tolerant” locals who delight in 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 added: “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 visited the South East Asian nation in 1991 and fell so deeply in love with it that he returned four times each year for holidays. Since relocating permanently in 2006, he’s run two other bars before his current establishment, which he calls “my last chance saloon”. He opened Trump Tower Thailand last summer following his split from his wife of nine years.

While he jokes that his Trump shirts and other merchandise come with a health warning, he insists Democrats are welcome at his bar. And he claims to be particularly popular among guests from Vladimir Putin’s Russia, who tell him they like a “strong leader”.

Paul contacted The Trump Organisation last November to notify them about his bar’s theme and extensive use of Trump merchandise. He explained: “They could have closed us down in seconds, but I have had no reply, so I assume they are happy about the bar.

Paul described his establishment as having become a tourist destination, and an old-school venue where any topic can be discussed freely. He explained: “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.”