I think Handmaid’s Tale has quite a strong connection to America as Margret Atwood feared that real life could become handmaid’ tale. It’s impossible to see the true feelings of the entire population of a country and you always have to take what the media say is true with a pinch of salt, so it is just as likely that America is heading in a handmaids tale direction, as that it isn’t heading that direction. Gilead is controlled by a very far-right leadership which is upheld by Christian views, Atwood was worried that  it would become like that in real life.