The notion of packing up and fleeing the United States as a protest against Donald Trump’s election—whether sparked by his 2024 victory or any hypothetical future win—sounds dramatic, noble even, until you run it through the grinder of reason. It’s a gesture that collapses under scrutiny, revealing itself as foolhardy, impractical, and ultimately worthless in effecting change.
Billboard: Courtney Love to Become a British Citizen: ‘Can’t Get Rid of Me’
Courtney Love is set to become a British citizen, revealing that she will be able to officially gain U.K. citizenship in six months.
The former Hole frontwoman, who has lived in London since 2019, made the announcement during a conversation with Todd Almond at London’s Geographical Society on March 4, where she also performed Bob Dylan’s “Like a Rolling Stone.”
“I’m really glad I’m here. It’s so great to live here. I’m finally getting my British citizenship in six months. I get to be a citizen. I’m applying, man! Can’t get rid of me,” she told the audience, according to the Daily Mail.
While she did not explicitly link her move to the political climate in the U.S., Love did not hold back in her criticism of the country’s current state, saying, “In terms of Trump, and particularly this group… it’s like emperor-core—like, [they’re] wearing million-dollar watches… Emperor-core is going on at Mar-a-Lago. It’s frightening now. It’s like cyanide now.”
Let’s dismantle this idea with cold, hard logic, step by step.
The Premise Falls Flat: Protest Without Impact
Moving out of the U.S. to “protest” Trump’s presidency assumes the act carries weight—a middle finger to the system that’ll make power tremble. But does it? Trump, his administration, and his voter base aren’t sitting around tallying expatriates, wringing their hands over each lost soul. The U.S. government doesn’t crumble because a few thousand—or even tens of thousands—decide to decamp. In 2020, the Census Bureau pegged the U.S. population at 331 million; even if 100,000 left (a generous estimate based on post-2016 “I’m moving to Canada” chatter), that’s 0.03%. Statistically irrelevant. Politically? A blip not worth a footnote. Your absence doesn’t sway policy, shift votes, or dent Trump’s agenda—it’s a silent scream into the void.
Contrast this with staying put and fighting. Voting, organizing, donating, or even just arguing at the Thanksgiving table keeps you in the game. Exiting cedes the field to the very forces you claim to oppose. It’s not protest—it’s surrender dressed up as defiance.
Practicality: The World Ain’t Your Oyster
Let’s get real: moving abroad isn’t a snap decision like canceling a streaming subscription. Immigration laws aren’t a buffet—you don’t just waltz into Canada, New Zealand, or wherever your liberal utopia lies. Canada’s Express Entry system, for instance, demands skills, education, and job offers; the average points cutoff hovers around 470 (out of 1,200), per 2023 data from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada. No high-demand trade or degree? Tough luck. Europe? Most countries require work visas tied to employment you won’t magically secure overnight. Even Mexico, a popular “easy out,” tightened its residency rules in 2022—financial thresholds now demand proof of $2,500+ monthly income or $43,000 in savings for a temporary resident visa.
And the cost? International moving averages $7,000–$15,000 (per 2024 estimates from move.org), plus legal fees, housing deposits, and the chaos of uprooting your life. For what? To sit in a foreign coffee shop, smugly tweeting about how you “escaped”? You’re not a political refugee—you’re a self-imposed exile burning cash to soothe your ego.
The Grass Isn’t Greener: Reality Bites
Say you make it out. Where to? Canada’s got universal healthcare, sure, but its housing crisis rivals the U.S.—Toronto’s average home price hit $1.1 million CAD in 2024 (CMHC data), and wages lag behind U.S. levels. Europe? Higher taxes (30–50% income tax rates in places like Germany or France) and language barriers await, plus you’re trading Trump for local populist headaches—think France’s Le Pen or Italy’s Meloni. New Zealand? Stunning, but remote, with a median income of $60,000 NZD ($36,000 USD) that’ll feel like a pay cut for most Americans (Stats NZ, 2023). Everywhere’s got its own mess; you’re not dodging politics, just swapping one flavor for another.
And here’s the kicker: Trump’s policies—tariffs, immigration crackdowns, tax cuts—ripple globally. You can’t outrun his influence in a hyperconnected world. Your “protest” move doesn’t shield you from the fallout; it just strands you far from the levers of change.
The Moral Flaw: Abandonment Isn’t Virtue
Peel back the bravado, and moving out reeks of privilege and cowardice. Not everyone can jet off—millions stuck under Trump’s policies (immigrants, the poor, marginalized groups) don’t have that luxury. You’re not striking a blow for them by bailing; you’re leaving them to fend for themselves. If you’re mad about healthcare, abortion rights, or climate inaction, the fight’s here—in courts, ballot boxes, streets. Fleeing signals you care more about your comfort than the cause. It’s performative, not principled.
Historical parallel: When Nixon won in ‘68, plenty griped, but those who stayed—activists, organizers—pushed back, shaping the ‘70s cultural and legal shifts. Exiles didn’t end Vietnam or pass Title IX; engaged citizens did.
The Logical Conclusion
Moving out as a Trump protest is foolhardy because it’s impractical—costly, legally thorny, and blind to global realities. It’s worthless because it lacks impact, abandoning the fight without denting the target. You don’t fix a leaky ship by jumping overboard; you grab a bucket and bail. Trump’s election, love it or hate it, is a done deal—leaving won’t undo it, but staying might blunt its edges. So unpack that suitcase, ditch the fantasy, and get to work. Anything less is just noise, not resistance.