Americans who moved to Europe say that the healthcare system, bureaucracy and cultural hostility were far worse than expected.
Liberal Americans who fled to Europe after Donald Trump was re-elected have discovered that the grass isn’t always greener on the other side of the Atlantic.
Wired magazine recently published the article ‘They fled Trump’s America. Now they regret it”.
Wired spoke to Americans who sought political asylum following Trump’s second election victory, but who have since expressed frustration at Europe’s lower standard of living, the rise of right-wing politics in the countries they moved to, and a new appreciation of American social norms and everyday culture.
For your information it is generally considered that Wired is a fairly left-leaning magazine.
Screenshot: Wired Magazine.
Annie thought the British NHS was completely free
One of them, a woman referred to as ‘Annie’, said that social media had sold her the idea of an idyllic life in the UK. The reality, however, turned out to be quite different:
“There are major misconceptions about access to high-quality healthcare, the standard of living and quality of life, which are significantly lower than in the US,” she told Wired.
She described the challenges of the British healthcare system and how much less she had left after her expenses were paid. She also complained that items such as a dishwasher and a tumble dryer are considered luxury goods in the UK.
Annie thought she would receive free healthcare through the British NHS, but she pays large sums in tax and a separate immigration surcharge to gain access to the public healthcare system.
She was also surprised by the level of anti-American hostility she encountered, and by cultural differences in the workplace. Even at work, people felt comfortable making fun of her accent and culture.
“The UK is largely a place where people think ‘that’s just the way it is’. But as Americans, we learn to always improve ourselves and strive for something better,” she said.
Annie had thought that the British politeness she knew from the films also existed in real life. But she misses the neighbourly kindness and helpfulness that are so strong in many parts of American culture.
Missing American work culture
Sarah Wood González, a journalist and consultant, learnt to appreciate the American mindset and work culture after living in another country.
She had taken Americans’ extroversion and drive for granted. In the US, the starting point is often the question: ‘How can we work together?’
– Generally speaking, I also found that the American way of working, for better or worse, is much faster and reaches a ‘yes’ or ‘no’ decision in a shorter time.
Josh, who moved to Germany, said that it was very difficult to find work, and that the endless bureaucracy had become even worse since he left the country.
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He missed the friendlier people, freedom of speech and the simple everyday life in the US. He felt that you are never fully accepted in Germany unless you were born and raised there and look German.
Josh told Wired that he had recently moved back to the US and was much happier. He admitted that he might have overreacted when he fled to Europe.
Kate Glavan, a left-wing political influencer, moved from New York to London at the end of 2024. She struggled to find work and announced earlier this year that she was moving back to New York.
No left-wing paradise
The irony is that Europe is no left-wing paradise either, writes Wired. Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, an ally of Trump, opposes abortion, same-sex marriage and immigration.
Wired reports that far-right groups are on the rise in the UK, whilst Greece, Germany and Portugal have right-wing governments pursuing conservative and anti-immigration policies.
Nick, an art director from New York, feels trapped in Europe, where, in his view, politics is not much better. He moved to Poland partly to get away from right-wing populism in the US, but acknowledges that Poland itself has a strong right-wing populist movement, both politically and culturally.
He moved with his Polish wife to Kraków, where they have a young child, but has nevertheless struggled to adapt to the culture and bureaucracy.
“What’s happening in the US is now happening everywhere, to such an extent that I’m even a bit cautious about what I say to you or anywhere online,” he tells Wired.
Perhaps France would have been a better choice for the disillusioned Nick?
Facing criticism when they want to go home
Those who have shared their frustration are often met with fierce criticism from other liberals when they say they want to move back to the ‘evil’ US, writes Wired.
The comments sections are often filled with accusations that they are actually right-wing and privileged, and that they’ll be in for an unpleasant surprise if they return home.
Ironically, many of the critics echo the very arguments they usually associate with the right: that those who move to a new country are probably not making enough of an effort to adapt.
When someone recently wrote that they missed their circle of friends in a ‘blue’ town in a ‘blue’ state and were considering moving back, the majority of the most popular comments suggested that the person was ‘mad’.
American liberals want socialism
Daniel Di Martino, an economist and fellow at the Manhattan Institute, was born in Venezuela. He told Fox News that some Americans have unrealistic notions about what life in Europe is actually like.
– Things aren’t always great in Europe, but Europe isn’t a single entity. Living on an average Greek wage is equivalent to a life close to the poverty line in the US. In Denmark, the situation is better, but the average income is still far lower than in the US, he said.
He admits that certain aspects of the quality of life in Europe are undoubtedly better, including lower crime rates and better food. But when it comes to income, Americans would be worse off if they moved to Europe.
According to Di Martino, it is harder to find a job in Europe because it is difficult to dismiss employees. Low- and middle-income groups also pay high taxes to fund healthcare and pensions for an ageing population.
Theo Wold, former Deputy Chief of Staff for Domestic Policy at the White House during Trump’s first term, believes that American liberals fail to understand that the European socialism they romanticise will undermine precisely what makes the US a good country to live in.
– ‘American liberals want to import European socialist ideas and let in ever-new waves of immigrants from the Third World. But socialism and mass immigration actually lead to poorer, less productive and less attractive countries,’ he said.
Wold believes that American voters who want a public health service for all should spend a few months on the NHS waiting list or try to find accommodation in Kreuzberg in Berlin. The stagnation in Europe is a real wake-up call, he says.
Norway is the ultimate utopia
I often meet Americans who share this same notion of a European paradise, particularly when I tell them I’m from Norway. Many don’t believe me when I say that reality isn’t as they imagine it.
The last time I was at the dentist, the dental assistant started talking enthusiastically about Norway, a country she had never visited. She was also convinced that Norwegians receive free dental treatment.
It turned out she was a keen Republican who, whilst working on my teeth, lashed out at the ‘crazy Democrats’ and Zohran Mamdani.
The dentist, who was born in Vietnam, shared the same view of Norway and didn’t believe me either. He said he’d check ChatGPT when he got home.
When I returned the next time, the dental receptionist clearly hadn’t forgotten our conversation. Now, images of beautiful Norwegian countryside were scrolling across the screen above the dentist’s chair.
At least our countryside remains utopian.
NRK focuses on the privileged who are ‘escaping from Trump’, whilst the Jews’ flight is ignored
