American expats: how do you think the US elections will affect you?

Hi Ameerah, Great topic. Great question. I'm a so called expat, but actually more of a world traveler, because I think globally; I may live in a place, the US, or France, or another country, but I think of myself as a world citizen, trying to overcome the artificial borders of nationality. Very idealistic in this world, where the US has an overwhelming influence, and everyone, everywhere I've been, has a strong opinion of the country and it's people. Many love Americans - as individuals or as represented by its cultural exports, (Hip-hop, Disney, Levi's, Coke, etc.), but hate American - the overbearing, dominant, aggressive American government and its policies. Some love Americans and America. I still remember the Bosnian shepherd shouting his love for the country that saved his nation from Serbia's bombs. And the Serbian farmer's hatred of the same America.

As a global citizen, I'm excited to have a chance to vote and affect the government that has that world wide influence. I think it is tremendously important to have a US government that is active in world affairs.

As a US passport holder, a native New Yorker, a child of immigrants, and  a 60's style activist, I wonder what i will do if this election goes the wrong way  - and Trump, as he is promising,  starts rounding up immigrants, free speech advocates, anyone who disagrees with him. I live near Besancon, and have visited the museum of WWII resistance, thought about all those people who fought, who died fighting against the fascists. I think of my Uncle who was part of the Belgium underground, was captured sent to Buchenwald. As an American, and as a world citizen, should I return and fight for the freedom of my native country?

Mitch Wood

I am comfortable for the most part in France. Because of the France/USA tax treaty, retirement in France is quite doable. In the USA, only the Rich can retire. No decent national health plan, few remaining pension plans except for the owners of businesses and the rich, union benefit all but gone. Even with a pension (I am a rarity) living in the states was impossible. Literally. You work or you get nothing.

Here I pay cash for any and all medical services at a fraction of the cost in the states. Insurance (of even basic quality) would cost $1000 a month...if they will insure me.

Security here is an issue, go to any large gathering and notice the fully armed paratroopers and legionnaires. In the states security is well in hand, except for Americans themselves who seems to enjoy shooting each other. Most of the Republican paranoia is self-fulfilling conspiracy theories.

Trump, who loves to spout nonsense that he will never do, undermines himself. But I can never trust a narcissistic, lying, blowhard.

Harris seems like a fish on a dock, flopping about with whatever seems popular opinion demands. I am a 4th generation Democrat and my party stinks, just not nearly as much as the Republicans. It's the best of two awful choices.

It is terribly sad, as is the state of affairs in my hometown, which has been so ruined by liberal politics in what was the fastest growing city in the US but now has businesses and citizens fleeing.  When you invite people into your home, you need to decide exactly WHO you are going to invite.In Oregon we invited the homeless, the drug addicted and the unemployed.  France could use a bit of thought about this when they invite immigration.  Who do you WANT, not who do you warehouse. The First question France should ask is: Explain Liberte, equalite, fraternite and what does it mean to you? Do you want to BE French.

I am honored the French are willing to integrate me into their world, under such gracious terms. I Like it here and I like the people.

If the Rethugs win, the US will end. Trump wants Putin to let him build his Moscow Hotel. We will not know until Jan 20, 2025. 

As my husband and I prepare to move from the US to France, in no small part due to what Trump's propaganda campaign has done to America, and sincere concern over what the future looks like under him.

Our most significant concern is this - Trump has said he might pull the US out of NATO, and he'll let Putin 'do whatever the hell he wants.' If this happens, our stay in France under the long-term visa program, might well be a short one.

My understanding is that the visa program for us exists under a treaty between the two nations and relies upon good relations, something that will end with Trump. So will France send us back to the US? Will Putin expand his reign of terror and take Poland after Trump gives him Ukraine, and where will that end?

We've discussed whether we might be eligible for asylum in France as political refugees, as I am a vocal 'journalist' proclaiming against Trump and MAGA. Will this make me a target of Trump's regime? Will it be safe for me to go back to the US under Trump? Will I be forced to leave France?

We're in the process of becoming expats because of the political climate in the US. Right now, I don't see a future here for us until things cool (and I'm thinking they will at some point, though it might be years down the road). We're excited for the new adventure and also sad for what we will be leaving behind. There are a lot of questions as to what the worldwide implications will be from this US election, but in the end, the final line is we can't stay here.

@boatman1940

I wholeheartedly agree. I live in Florida where common sense has been nowhere to be found these days.   

Last night, Trump said he would declare victory on election day when he was in NewYork last night at Madison Square Garden. The same place His Father and Grandfather were in 1939 at the Rally for Hitler at the big Nazi Rally in  Madison Square Garden, New York City.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1939_Nazi … are_Garden

On February 20, 1939, a Nazi rally took place at Madison Square Garden, organized by the German American Bund. More than 20,000 people attended, and Fritz Julius Kuhn was a featured speaker. The Bund billed the event, which took place two days before George Washington's Birthday, as a pro-"Americanism" rally; the stage at the event featured a huge Washington portrait with swastikas.

Tonight, the Madison Square Garden 1939 Rally was mentioned in Rachel Maddow show as well.

So, what is the next move?

@roblex

Where are you headed? We just returned from four weeks in Europe, three in France, and will be moving to France as soon as we can get everything together. If Trump wins, we'll be in France before he assumes his throne.

I'm not American, but I do follow world politics very carefully. Gawd help us all if Trump wins, 4 years of him in power is not even bearable to think about.

Then if he loses, that's another worry. We all saw what happened when he lost last time.

In the news, the FBI has been called in after a 3rd ballot box was set on fire!

Try living in SE Asia.

The Dems are war mongers, and Trump hates China except when he's buying MAGA hats from them.

The NED has already tried to interfer in the presidential election and their machine is slowly pushing against the new freely elected president of Indonesia.

US expats have issues, but so do expats from many other countries.

@Raevon1

France, probably Nice...

@Ameerah Arjanee Hi, I'm also a writer/blogger.  I hold a British passport, lived in the US for many years and have lived in France--near Beziers--for 11 years.  Although I have no plans to return to the US to live, my family and many friends all live there.  To say I'm concerned about the upcoming presidential election is an understatement.  The return of Trump to the White House would be a disaster, an understatement--not just for the US but the entire world.  I would be very interesting in getting together with other ex-pats with an interest in the US election--either to celebrate (hopefully) or commiserate. 

One US expats might like to note.

Trump was the first US president that was told to 'get lost' by mainstream politicians

https://edition.cnn.com/2019/07/19/euro … index.html

He ruined the United State's position in the world.

However Biden has destabilised a lump of Eastern Europe and is doing his best to damage Asia. When he stole Russia's money, he started a massive roll away from the Dollar. I suspect his VP will follow roughly the same self destructive path.

@janicemacdonald6

If we were there now, we'd love to join in that gathering. We're back in the US after a month in France, scouting areas we might wish to buy a home upon our return. If I could put this house on the market this minute, I would. This America is not the one we grew up in. It's something 'other' now. France felt safer to us, and the people were so welcoming and considerate. We look forward to the next leg of our journey.

@Ameerah Arjanee

I am an American planning to locate in France because of the heartbreaking shift our country has taken towards  rejection of the rule of law replaced with violence and bigotry.  If Trump gets elected he has promised to revoke the legal citizenship of naturalized citizens, conduct mass deportations regardless of legal residency. Those who oppose him will suffer his wrath:  he will use the military to squash peaceful protests, imprison innocent citizens, permit a national ban on abortion and allow states to invade our privacy to enforce it.  He supports dismantling social safety nets.  He continues to court dictators, would withdraw from international agreements and protocols, tax foreign business to the point it will be pointless to engage with us, and remove all regulatory obstacles for compliance with environmental law. In this atmosphere of hatred and vengeance no one is safe anymore.  If he is not elected, he will again lead an insurrection, even more violent this time.  Thank you for the question.  I appreciated hearing from other Americans who feel the same.

@maberg2023

Trump is a lot of talk, and preaches to his cult, quite often all lies and will say anything to please them. We have these kind of people around the world the far right. But Trump is quite mad and wouldn't trust him one but. Remember when he said he was going to build the wall and get Mexico to pay? That never happened and the most of the wall that he did have built was refurbishing the wall that was already there.

As I said previously I'm not American, but I do follow the politics and I get all American TV channels. When even Fox News cuts Trump off because he is in one of his incoherent rants, you know Trump is in trouble.

Now what does he want to do, sue CBS for $10 billion because they edited a Harris interview.

Well, it's going to be a few interesting days, and I will staying up with a friend to watch the coverage on TV.

Yes just keep watching TV folks.........that's what they want you to do

@Sepharad

Yours are the only sensible words I have read in this forum........

@Raevon1

Vote before you leave for France. We need the help and votes of all reasonable Americans.

@gulruu94

Vote him Drump off the island

@roblex

If Drump wins or just takes over, he will sell us all out to Putie for a Moscow Hotel and a Golf Club. But if that happens, Putie will go after Nato and the EU, and it will be a mess. Project 2025 owns the Supreme Courts, and they have proved they will do whatever Drump wants. Until Project 2025 no longer needs him, he will fall out of a high window in Moscow, and Putie will be President for life. And the Bilionare Christians will take everything and everyone. And fill their prison camps. The people that do not want that need to vote the GOP out of everywhere. A Sailboat might work for a few years. Musk will sell all the information from X and the pictures from his satellites to anyone.

@gulruu94

That is for sure. If you vote for the Democratic women, there is still a chance Drump will fail or Musk will quit. Or the next storm gets him. It is winding up. #18

@boatman1940

I think either way it is not going to be peaceful and that is very unsettling.

@SimCityAT

I hope you're right.  Its done now and not all that close.

@mhwoodmail

More NYCers here

The trepidation and fear from the expected points you mentioned, along with the waiting for January and his divisive reign to begin, has cast a real somber mood across the City.

Bill

@maberg2023

Sadly, he won. The mood where I live, is very dour and fearful.

People are hoping it might not be as bad as expected, but...

That's why we are tentatively looking towards Beziers

I'll miss America's attempt at Democracy if trump kills it.

@janicemacdonald6

He won. Disaster ahead.

@Raevon1

"My understanding is that the visa program for us exists under a treaty between the two nations and relies upon good relations, something that will end with Trump. So will France send us back to the US?"

Yoiks! I never though of this.

@Raevon1
"My understanding is that the visa program for us exists under a treaty between the two nations and relies upon good relations, something that will end with Trump. So will France send us back to the US?"
Yoiks! I never though of this. - @orcuttnyc

Things would have to get pretty bad for that to happen.

@janicemacdonald6
He won. Disaster ahead. - @orcuttnyc

It's probably going to be bad for most in the US,  but the degree of impact on expats is dependent on many factors.

We saw attacks on Jews because of what the Israeli leadership did, and the same for Americans.

My short but very pleasant time in Malaysia saw a few minor adventures, and a few interesting experiences. A very common one was being asked if I was an American, but in a less than friendly tone. Their obvious dislike faded away as soon as they found out I was not.

Trump's policies might well bring some of that back.

@gulruu94
That is for sure. If you vote for the Democratic women, there is still a chance Drump will fail or Musk will quit. Or the next storm gets him. It is winding up. #18 - @boatman1940

I see you use 'Drump'.

You might like to learn that trump is a common word for 'fart' in British English.

It remains to be seen if this election has produced an eggy one, and what state the US of A's underwear will be in in a few years.

If my limited knowledge of history is roughly accurate, the more extreme and stupid the leader, the greater the mess their country ends up in.

His 100% tariff on countries that don't use the US Dollar bullying statement might very well lead faster de-dollarisation.

@orcuttnyc

I have been looking at France for months now.  I wish I was fluent, but I'm going to try to learn the language faster.  I hope I am welcome there and can fit in.  I don't fit in here anymore when half of my fellow citizens vote for violence in all its forms with full knowledge. 

@orcuttnyc I have been looking at France for months now. I wish I was fluent, but I'm going to try to learn the language faster. I hope I am welcome there and can fit in. I don't fit in here anymore when half of my fellow citizens vote for violence in all its forms with full knowledge. - @maberg2023

If you take a look, both candidates are about violence. Only the location is different.

Leaving a country for party political reasons is generally not a great idea.

@orcuttnyc  So glad I made the decision to move to France.  That was 11 years ago and I've never regretted it.

@Fred

I think it is going bad right now.

@Fred
I think it is going bad right now. - @boatman1940

Look who he has picked for his team..... You really couldn't make it up it's that stupid.

@orcuttnyc So glad I made the decision to move to France. That was 11 years ago and I've never regretted it. - @janicemacdonald6

I left the UK for partially political reasons, but not party political ones.

The drug culture was being seriously ignored by most politicians, but it has absolutely ruined the UK.

What used to be Great Britain has become Toilet Britain.

The corrupt Tories had little time to do much because they were too busy lining their pockets, and corrupt Labour is about the same, but all PC about the drug thing being society's fault - Not the evil money grabbing swine who make a fortune from killing weak minded fools.

What a pity such a nice place was destroyed.

@Fred
I think it is going bad right now. - @boatman1940
Look who he has picked for his team..... You really couldn't make it up it's that stupid. - @SimCityAT

It isn't stupid for Trump, but it is for Americans.