A prominent American academic who relocated his family to Canada, citing the political climate under Donald Trump, has issued a stark warning to his new compatriots, describing those who express a desire to visit or move to the United States as verging on 'traitorous'.
From Yale to Toronto: A Flight from 'Fascism'
Jason Stanley, a former professor at Yale University and author of 'How Fascism Works', now teaches at the University of Toronto's Munk School. He moved his family in March 2025, stating the US had been 'veering toward fascism for some time'. In a recent op-ed for the Toronto Star, Stanley expressed shock at the 'alarming level of naïveté' he observes in Canada regarding events south of the border.
He wrote that while Canada is an 'extraordinarily privileged' free democracy, he has spoken to Canadians who say they would rather live in the US. 'To me, this verges on traitorous,' Stanley stated, arguing that economic opportunities cannot compensate for what he termed rising white supremacy and fascism.
A Call for 'Robust Nationalism' and Mistrust
Stanley urged Canada to adopt a 'robust nationalism' rooted in defending core democratic ideals and rejecting American 'values of cruelty and intolerance'. His comments follow a turbulent start to 2026, marked by US special forces capturing Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro in Caracas and flying him to New York on narcoterrorism charges.
The Pentagon called this mission 'Operation Absolute Resolve'. President Trump declared the US would temporarily 'run' Venezuela without outlining a transition plan. Stanley cited this event, alongside domestic US policies, as evidence of a deepening crisis.
He claimed American institutions have been fundamentally altered, writing: 'ICE is now an internal security force, seemingly beholden to Trump alone,' and continues to 'terrorize US civilians'. He pointed to the fatal shooting of Renee Nicole Good by an ICE officer in Minneapolis on January 7 as an example.
An Existential Threat to the Free World
Stanley further accused the US Justice Department of being weaponised against Trump's opponents and claimed non-citizens have 'no right to free speech'. He cited remarks by former advisor Stephen Miller as evidence the administration favours 'rule by force'.
'All Canadians must now recognize that their once-reliable ally poses a genuine existential threat to the free world,' Stanley warned, suggesting annexation remains 'on the table'. He concluded with a blunt message: 'Canada is a free democracy, one that embraces diversity and tolerance. For that very reason, America is not your friend. It is time we started living in the real world.'
Stanley has echoed these sentiments in interviews over the past year. In March 2025, he told The Guardian he left Yale after Columbia University 'capitulated' to federal pressure, calling it a 'losing strategy'. By late 2025, he told Mother Jones: 'Yes, a coup is happening in the United States,' adding that staying at Yale would have meant avoiding drawing the Trump administration's 'wrath' onto the institution.
