The Donald Dash: Why Record Numbers of Americans Are Leaving the US in 2025–2026

They are calling it the "Donald Dash" — the surge of Americans researching, planning, and executing moves abroad following the 2024 presidential election. But the phenomenon is bigger than any single election. It is the culmination of years of accumulating frustration: with healthcare costs, gun violence, political division, economic anxiety, and the general sense that the United States is becoming a harder and harder place to live a peaceful, affordable life.

The Data Behind the Trend

Google searches for "how to move to another country" and "moving abroad from the US" spiked to record levels in November 2024, immediately following the presidential election. International Living, one of the largest expat resources in the world, reported a 300% increase in inquiries from Americans in the weeks following the election. Immigration attorneys in Canada, Portugal, Mexico, and Brazil reported being overwhelmed with American clients.

The State Department estimates that approximately 9 million Americans currently live abroad — a figure that has grown steadily for a decade. But the pace of inquiry and planning has accelerated dramatically since 2024. MoveBuddha, which tracks moving trends, found that searches for "moving abroad" from states like California, New York, Illinois, and Colorado were at all-time highs in early 2025.

Brazil's Federal Police reported a 40% increase in American visa applications in the first quarter of 2025 compared to the same period in 2024. The Brazilian consulate in Miami extended its appointment availability by six weeks to accommodate demand.

Why Now? The Accumulation of Reasons

The people leaving are not all political refugees. They are retirees who cannot afford healthcare. They are remote workers who realized they can earn US dollars while living on a fraction of the cost. They are parents who are exhausted by school shooting drills and the anxiety of raising children in a gun-saturated society. They are professionals who are burned out and looking for a different pace of life. They are people who have simply done the math and realized that the quality of life available to them in another country — for the same or less money — is dramatically better.

The political climate is a catalyst, not a cause. The causes have been building for years: the US has the highest healthcare costs of any developed nation, the highest rates of gun violence among peer countries, the highest levels of income inequality in the developed world, and some of the lowest scores on international happiness and wellbeing indices. The 2025 World Happiness Report ranked the United States 24th — its lowest ranking ever — while Brazil ranked higher on several social wellbeing metrics despite lower per-capita income.

Why South Brazil Specifically

Among the destinations seeing the sharpest increase in American interest, South Brazil — and Florianópolis in particular — stands out for several reasons. It is not a developing-world destination with infrastructure challenges. Florianópolis is a modern, well-connected city with excellent healthcare, reliable internet, international schools, and a thriving expat community. It has the beaches and outdoor lifestyle of a tropical paradise, the safety and infrastructure of a developed city, and a cost of living that is 50–70% lower than most US cities.

The weather is subtropical — warm year-round, never extreme. The food is fresh, affordable, and delicious. The people are warm and welcoming. And the Brazilian visa system, while bureaucratic, offers multiple pathways for Americans — including retirement visas, digital nomad visas, and investment visas — that are significantly more accessible than many European alternatives.

The Cost of Living Comparison That Changes Everything

The number that stops most Americans in their tracks is this: a couple can live comfortably in Florianópolis — with a nice apartment, fresh food, healthcare, entertainment, and occasional travel — for $2,500–$3,500 per month. The same lifestyle in a comparable US city (San Diego, Austin, Denver, Miami) would cost $6,000–$10,000 per month or more. For retirees living on Social Security and savings, or remote workers earning US salaries, this arithmetic is transformative.

It is not about living cheaply. It is about living well — for less. The beach is free. The fresh food is cheap. The healthcare is affordable. The community is warm. And the noise of American political and social life is, mercifully, far away.

We Made the Move. Here Is What We Know.

Cecilia and I moved to Florianópolis several years ago. We were not fleeing anything specific. We were drawn toward something: a slower pace, a warmer culture, a healthier lifestyle, and the freedom that comes from living well within your means. What we found exceeded our expectations in almost every way.

The transition is real work. There is bureaucracy. There is a language to learn. There are moments of frustration and disorientation. But the life on the other side of that transition — the morning swims, the fresh markets, the long lunches, the community, the quiet — is worth every bit of it.

If you are reading this and feeling the pull, you are not alone. Millions of Americans are asking the same question right now. The question is not whether to consider it. The question is whether you are ready to take the first step.

Sources

1. 1. International Living — Post-Election Expat Inquiry Surge, November 2024
2. 2. US State Department — Americans Living Abroad: Annual Report, 2024
3. 3. MoveBuddha — States Googling "Move Abroad" Most, 2025
4. 4. World Happiness Report 2025 — United States Ranking, Gallup/UN
5. 5. Numbeo — Cost of Living: Florianópolis vs. US Cities, 2025
6. 6. Brazilian Federal Police — Visa Application Statistics Q1 2025