An article recently published by The Atlantic highlights a growing trend - Americans are increasingly looking abroad for a better life. Whether the main issue is family, finances, freedom or politics, more and more Americans are seeking a better quality of life elsewhere.

The Atlantic’s article profiles a businessman from the Midwest named “Charlie.” Charlie is in the process of obtaining a residence permit in Europe through Portugal’s Golden Visa program. His motivations for investing in Portugal for residence rights, says Charlie, are about family and safety. Charlie said that he “feels threatened by both the Nazi-saluting right and the Gaza-protesting left.” 

“I have enough knowledge of history to know and to believe that people who say ‘It could never happen here’ are daydreaming,” he said.

The article notes that most recently, Charlie’s fears have gone way beyond anti-Semitism “to being scared of where our country is going and whether the forces of good will eventually win out over the bullshit that’s tearing down the government,” he said. Charlie views an escape hatch as common sense, not traitorous. He told the journalist that he’d “even inspired” a few of his friends to look into Portugal’s Golden Visa program.

Americans seeking safety abroad due to political concerns at home is nothing new. Stories of Americans declaring their intentions to flee the United States for political reasons tend to make the news every four years, typically correlating with celebrities reacting to the most recent presidential election. 

Late 2024 and early 2025 is no exception. The election of President Donald Trump’s second term has once again inspired several figures of notoriety to state their intentions to move abroad.

Notably, Rosie O’Donnell, a frequent target of President Trump’s jests for many years, announced that she is moving to Ireland, a country she qualifies for citizenship of by virtue of her heritage.

Rosie O’Donnell isn’t the only American who has left the U.S. for political reasons. There have been several celebrities and public figures who have either claimed they would leave the U.S. due to political reasons or actually moved abroad. Here are a few notable examples:

People Who Actually Moved:

• Tina Turner – The music legend renounced her U.S. citizenship in 2013 and moved to Switzerland, where she had been living for decades with her husband. Though not entirely political, she cited comfort and preference for Swiss culture.

• Chelsea Manning – The former U.S. Army intelligence analyst, who leaked classified documents, moved to Canada in 2023 after legal and political struggles in the U.S.

• Josephine Baker – The famous entertainer and civil rights activist moved to France in the mid-20th century due to racial and political tensions in America.

• James Baldwin – The author and activist left the U.S. for France in the 1940s, citing systemic racism and political frustrations.

People Who Threatened to Leave (But Haven’t Yet, Didn't or Returned):

• Courtney Love - Kurt Cobain’s widow recently announced her intent to leave the U.S. in favor of relocating to London, calling President Trump’s plans for the U.S. “frightening.”

• Barbra Streisand – Has repeatedly said she would leave if certain politicians won but has remained in the U.S.

• Whoopi Goldberg – Suggested she might leave if Trump won in 2016, but she didn’t.

• Samuel L. Jackson – Threatened to move to South Africa if Trump won in 2016 but did not.

• Miley Cyrus – Said she would leave if Trump won in 2016 but stayed.

• Bruce Springsteen – Joked about moving to Australia if Trump was re-elected but did not follow through.

Most celebrities who publicly declare they will leave the U.S. often remain, but a few have actually made the move for political, racial, or ideological reasons.

Changing one’s place of residence for political reasons is not unusual in the modern era, even among Americans. Midwest businessmen and Hollywood stars alike have been seeking freedom and safety abroad at higher rates. If the voting turnout in the most recent election didn’t produce the desired outcome, people are now “voting with their feet” - they are moving their lives to places that they feel better represent their values and ambitions.

If you feel like the United States is heading in the wrong direction and you’d like an escape plan, you’re not alone. Contact Immigration Diligence today and we can help you build a customized plan to help you get to where you want to be.