An Amerexit: Why Americans are googling ‘how to leave country’ after Trump’s win

All their bags are packed and they are ready to go.

The US presidential election, which resulted in the stupendous victory of Donald Trump over Kamala Harris, has led to many suffering the Election Blues. Disappointed about Trump’s win and worried about the state of democracy in the US, now, many are taking their anguish online, searching for countries they could move to.

Leading this pack are some known names from Hollywood, including Sharon Stone, America Ferrera and Cher.

Here’s a better look at why many Americans are considering leaving the country and where are they looking to move.

Who’s looking to leave the US?

Several US news outlets are reporting that a significant chunk of Americans are now looking at moving abroad, just days after the US presidential election.

Among those who have voiced their concern and seriously considering the move are Barbie and Ugly Betty star America Ferrera. The 40-year-old is now planning to the United Kingdom with her husband, Ryan Piers Williams, and their six-year-old son Sebastian, and four-year-old daughter Lucia.

An insider has been quoted as telling Daily Mail, “America is sick that Donald Trump is president again. She is devastated that Kamala (Harris) lost. She thought the country she lived in was better than that.”

“She’s not abandoning the US, she is prioritising her life and focusing on the importance for her kids,” added the source in the same report.

And she’s not alone. Sharon Stone is also considering moving to Italy. In July, before the elections, the Basic Instinct star said that she was thinking of moving. “This is one of the first times in my life that I’ve actually seen anyone running for office on a platform of hate and oppression,” she said as per the NY Post, referring to Donald Trump.

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Famous singer Cher also voiced similar sentiments. In a 2023 interview, she said about a possible Trump presidency, “I almost got an ulcer the last time. If he gets in, who knows? This time I will leave (the country).”

Others such as Hugh Jackman and Renee Zellweger are also reportedly weighing up a relocation.

But it’s not just celebrities who are thinking of moving out of the US. A look at Google Trends revealed that searches for “leaving the country” and “how to move” saw a surge following US media outlets calling the results in favour of Donald Trump.

On November 6, searches for “how to move to Canada’ surged in areas, that are predominantly blue states such as Vermont, Maine, Oregon and Washington. Additionally, “can I move to another country” was increasingly being searched in in two pivotal “blue wall” swing states — Wisconsin and Pennsylvania, which was later called for Trump.

Tony Proscio, a 70-year-old, told The Atlantic that a second Trump presidency was the reason he and his husband were going to move to London. “When you’re two men married to each other, it’s not hard to imagine how that could go badly for you,” he said, adding that he was very worried about whether Obergefell v Hodges, the decision that legalised same-sex marriage, can survive a future Supreme Court, if Trump makes yet more appointments.

On Reddit, there’s a group dedicated to those leaving the US, called “r/AmerExit,” in which hundreds share suggestions about ideal destinations and tips for getting visas and jobs. Some users said they feared for their country, their safety, or both after Trump’s election.

But why are they looking to move?

For many who are considering leaving America, a second Trump presidency is the main cause. They are scared of the sweeping changes the Republican plans to bring into the US once he takes charge of the Oval Office.

Many women who are thinking of moving fear that a Trump presidency would rob them of their reproductive rights. Anti-immigration and anti-LGBTQ sentiments, fuelled by Trump rhetoric are also expected to rise, which is why people are mulling a move out of the US.

Margaret, 83, a Floridian, told The Atlantic, that if Trump wins, she will be leaving the country as soon as she can. “I don’t trust him. I don’t think that he knows what he’s doing,” she said, adding, “I just find the man’s behaviour, his attitude toward women, shocking.”

David, a 65-year-old lawyer from Chicago who is looking to move to Portugal, highlighted the lack of tolerance in the US. He told Fortune, “This country of mine has become intolerant. This country has always vilified people who are not like them. So we see these pictures of people on the south of the border, and they’re just people, but both sides use them for political reasons, and that’s just one example of the absolute intolerance, and it’s sad.”

Which other countries are options for Americans?

For many Americans who are thinking of moving out, Canada is the top option. One in five Americans chose it as their preferred destination following a disappointing presidential election result, reported NBC News.

The United Kingdom is second on the list, followed by Japan.

Henley & Partners, a global citizenship firm, meanwhile, reported that most Americans moving abroad are looking at Canada or European destinations such as Greece, Italy, Malta, Portugal, and Spain.

However, for the ultra-wealthy Americans, there’s also the option of New Zealand and Australia.

Interestingly, this potential exodus is reminiscent of 2016. When Donald Trump had become US president for the first time, several Americans, mostly Democrats had expressed a strong desire to leave the country.

Only time will tell if these Americans will dump Trump and the US.

With inputs from agencies