As a growing number of Americans consider leaving the country following the election of Donald Trump as president, a young woman has warned that fleeing politics is not always what it should be.
Google searches for “how to move countries” have skyrocketed following Trump’s victory, with moving companies saying 80 percent of people want to move specifically for political reasons.
Celebrities including Barbra Streisand, Cher and Sharon Stone and Barbie star America Ferrera all said they would leave if Trump won.
An insider told DailyMail.com that Ferrera is ‘sick’, that Trump has been re-elected and will move to Britain in search of the ‘best opportunities’ for her children.
It was confirmed on Thursday that Ellen DeGeneres and wife Portia de Rossi had moved to the Cotswolds, in the south-east of England.
But after Trump’s landslide election victory, Katy Nightingale, a thirty-something who describes herself as an “anxious millennial” and “eco-socialist,” warned Americans to reconsider such a major commitment.
“Do you want to leave the US because it’s a dumpster fire? I thought I would share my experiences and some thoughts,” said the artist, activist and healthcare provider
Nightingale, who writes a piece about her Substack titled “I Tried to Leave the US,” said she left specifically because of politics in the US in April 2023 and spent a year in New Zealand.
She has also spent time in the Middle East after growing up in Chicago and Michigan.
Self-described ‘anxious millennial’ Katy Nightingale (pictured) told people to reconsider leaving the country
A growing number of Americans are considering leaving the country after Trump’s re-election
When she arrived in New Zealand, her first obstacle was the challenging bureaucracy surrounding immigration and employment, and she had to constantly update her visa in order to continue working.
She also found it a lonely experience making friends in a new country with a different culture in her early thirties.
“New Zealand is considered one of the more accessible countries for Americans without heritage-based citizenship options, but that doesn’t make the process easy,” Nightingale said.
Nightingale also addressed the fears of those who left, concerned about what a Trump presidency meant for issues of race, gender, children’s education and reproductive rights.
Nightingale said there is no such thing as a utopia and that people who flee leave others to deal with those things.
‘Leaving is not a protest. Sometimes quitting is necessary for self-preservation, but let’s not confuse it with creating a positive difference where you leave,” she said.
Nightingale said that instead of abandoning their communities, they should try to help them.
“For those of us who want to dismantle unjust systems, we must think critically about whether we leave or stay.
“Leaving creates a void that will be eagerly filled by those who wish to further fascism and oppression. As fewer people engage locally, certain voices will become louder.
“Even if you plan to stay involved and vote from abroad, you will never be as involved as you would be if you lived there. In my years abroad, I have closely followed American news, voted, signed petitions, and shared on social media, but I have found that the lack of proximity prevents me from doing much more than that.”
Nightingale moved to New Zealand (photo Matheson Lake on the South Island) in search of a better life, but revealed in a recent blog post that she now believes utopias do not exist.
Nightingale (pictured) called out people fleeing politics for abandoning the communities that need their help
A host of celebrities who have been outspoken in their opposition to Trump taking office – including Barbie star America Ferrera – even vowed to leave the country in victory.
She advised that it would have more impact for people who have the means to leave the country to stay and use their resources to help others.
“As I struggled with my decision to stay or leave, a friend of mine patiently reminded me of how many privileges I enjoy in the US,” Nightingale said.
“Being an educated, able-bodied, cis white person with a large social network means that I will almost always have access to a wide range of resources. How much impact would the policies I fear actually have on me, compared to those who can’t leave?’
Ordinary Americans told DailyMail.com their thoughts on the issue, noting that there are most likely other countries that offer a more peaceful environment, while at the same time wondering what would change for those with more influence.
“If they have power, privilege and money, maybe they should do something to help the community around them, instead of just running away,” one person said.
‘I understand if people want to leave, because it’s crazy here. But I don’t like it when privileged people with mobility just knowingly say, ‘we’re leaving because the ship is sinking,'” said another.
Democratic candidate and Vice President Kamala Harris had a who’s who of Hollywood supporting her, with stars like Jennifer Lopez, Beyoncé, Oprah Winfrey, Bruce Springsteen and Howard Stern supporting her campaign.