A seismic shift is reshaping America’s demographic landscape as citizens flee in record numbers, reminiscent of the Great Depression era. Dubbed the ‘Donald Dash,’ this out-migration wave has intensified under President Trump’s second administration, fueled by economic pressures and global opportunities.
Brookings Institution data pegs last year’s net loss at 150,000 souls, with 2026 forecasts even grimmer. The Wall Street Journal crunched numbers from 15 countries, revealing US inflows crashing from 6 million in 2023 to 2.6-2.7 million in 2025. Over 180,000 Americans headed there, but that’s just the tip.
Scattered stats paint a vivid picture: State Department figures show 1.6 million Americans in Mexico, 250,000+ in Canada, 325,000 in the UK amid 1.5 million in Europe. Portugal’s American population exploded 500% post-COVID, up 36% in 2024 alone. Ireland doubled its intake to 10,000 last year; Germany flips the script with more US arrivals than exits.
Relocation experts are swamped. Expatsey’s Jen Barnett, during a call drawing 400 aspiring Albanian movers, noted the democratization of departure: ‘It’s no longer just elites—ordinary people are joining.’ Her bold goal: 1 million relocations.
Remote work, skyrocketing costs, and lifestyle allure underpin this flight, predating but peaking in Trump’s term—hence the moniker. The White House boasts superior growth, aggressive deportations (675,000 formal, 2.2 million voluntary), and golden visas luring million-dollar investors.
Citizenship renunciations skyrocketed 48% in 2024, backlogged by tax-dodgers and passport-seekers. Voices like Chris Ford’s from Berlin highlight the pull: ‘Europe offers safety and superior living standards over US paychecks.’ Spain quips about wine-fueled stays.
Student trends confirm: US international enrollments fell 17%, countered by surging European apps—6,600 UK citizenship bids by March 2025, 31,825 Irish passports to Yanks in 2024.
‘Life’s cheap in Albania—$1,000 monthly suffices,’ says ex-New Yorker Kelly McCoy. Last paralleled in 1935’s Depression flight to Soviet jobs, this marks America as a net exporter of talent once more.