Many US expats living in the UK are caught between a rock and a hard place.
They are wondering if they should stick it out in Brexit Britain, or go home and brave a second Trump term.
Americans will be heading to the polls on the 3rd of November to decide if Donald Trump or Joe Biden will win the top job.
Supporters of both candidates feel this election could change their home country for good, leading some to consider jumping ship.
The London based accountancy firm, Bambridge Accountants, found that 5,816 Americans gave up their citizenship in the first six months of 2020, up an enormous 1,210% from the previous year.
While some renounce their citizenship because of onerous tax returns requirements, the firm also found that for many, the “pandemic has motivated [them] to cut ties and avoid the current political climate.”
Jamie Mac, 39, who is originally from Denver, Colorado but now lives in Edinburgh, is one such expat who is considering her future with the US.
“I think the election will influence our decision to return...in this pandemic the cracks that were already there in the US have just widened even more,” she said.
“This isn’t just a Republican versus Democrat, this is literally democracy versus the Trump administration.”
She added: “If Biden is elected I would lean more towards being ok going back, however Biden has four years and a lot of the things which need to be fixed in the US, like gun control and healthcare are going to take a lot longer than four years to fix.”
Safety and healthcare are pressing issues for many US expats in the UK. Heather Bee, 46, who lives in York but is originally from Connecticut, is planning on voting for the Democrats in the upcoming election.
She said: “Over recent years conservatism has become more extreme and religion seems to be interfering in government policy.
“At this point the only chance the US has for recovery is stopping Trump. It would be irresponsible as a human being to not vote for Joe Biden.”
But she said she is likely to stay in the UK regardless of the result.
“It’s a better life for our daughter,” she said.
“She doesn’t ever have to have active shooter drills at school. If she gets hurt I don’t have to stop and worry about whether I have enough money in the bank.”
“There’s a lot more security in her life here.”
Lucius Reibel, 22, moved to the UK from Massachusetts to study at The University of St Andrews. Like Jamie and Heather, he sees a Trump defeat as essential for America’s future.
He said: “I was a strong supporter of Bernie Sanders in the primaries, but I recognise how important it is to elect Biden and remove Trump from office. This country is coming apart at the seams after only four years; another four would lead us even further down this dark path."
But he believes that if Trump wins, the better option is to go back to the US and resist Trumpism.
“I think abandoning my country in a time of crisis would be a coward’s move. It would be an admission that this is Trump’s country now, and that I didn’t think it was worth trying to save,” he said.
“Things could get a lot worse in the US, but they could also get much better. I would like to believe that by staying [in the US], I can help make a better outcome more likely.”
Not every US expat in the UK supports the Democrats.
Spencer Shia, 20, from Illinois, who studies at UCL, identifies as a “moderate Republican with hints of libertarianism.”
He is planning on voting for Joe Biden in the upcoming election, but for Republicans in the gubernatorial and congressional races also happening on election day.
He said: “Good conservative policy like deregulation and tax cuts only matter so long as we are actually able to get them through, and I think Trump and his messaging has been quite alienating.
“Trump makes them toxic ideas with the rhetoric and the language he uses.
“America is more diverse and socially liberal than its ever been. Wait two or three election cycles and we’re not going to be winning elections anymore.”
Like Lucius, regardless of the election result, he thinks it is better to return to the US.
“I want to enter public service for the US, as corny as this sounds, I do want to serve my country,” he added.
Lucas de Carvalho, 21, is from Maryland and now lives in Fife. He is a registered Republican but says he doesn’t identify with the party as much anymore. Like Spencer, he will likely vote for Biden, and Republicans down the ballot.
“It’s hard to look at Trump’s presidency as successful,” he said.
Referring to coronavirus, he said: “You don’t have to be a doctor to know that the US has been a disaster in terms of the response, not just in terms of cases but how the economy has done.”
He says that if Trump wins a second term he would be more likely to stay in the UK.
“You lose confidence in the national project if you give a second term to somebody who seems to have bungled the coronavirus response so greatly.”
Dom Toni, 70, is also a Republican who is unlikely to return home, but for very different reasons to Lucas.
He likes Trump because of “his honesty and straight shooting with the facts. He’s not a politician.”
Although he dislikes that UK gun laws are more restrictive, if Trump loses he will stay in the UK.
“I don't want to live in a progressive left-wing society that will destroy all that is good about the US.”
“All you have to do is look at states and cities run by the left wing socialists. All broke, corrupt, high taxes, high crime.”
Another Trump supporter wished to remain anonymous as he works in education, and he feels “schools and agencies are extremely biased against Americans and Trump.”
“I like how he’s direct and he gets things done.”
“He has been a man of action despite the fact he’s had two different parties in control of congress.”
“The Democrats like to steamroll things and not be collegial.”
He plans to stay in the UK for the foreseeable future.
“I’m scared of the unrest, I don’t think I want to go back”, referring to the riots that have broken out in major US cities in response to the killing of George Floyd in May.
“It’s going to get worse before it gets better.”
