Readers have responded to Zoe Williams' article on the rise of US nationals renouncing their citizenship to distance themselves from Donald Trump's America. The letters highlight a range of perspectives, from political disgust to practical financial considerations.
Political Disillusionment and Practical Hassles
One reader, who renounced in 2012, stated: 'The rot started well before Donald Trump... the administration aspect of my life is very much simpler. But very sadly the US is no longer a country to feel proud of.' Another, a US immigration lawyer in London, noted that in her experience, renunciation was rarely purely political: 'In most cases the reason was simply convenience, avoiding the hassle that US citizens living outside the US face... The motivating factor was the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA).'
Voices of Dissent and Commitment
Not all readers agreed with renunciation. One dual citizen living in the UK said: 'For all its considerable flaws, the US... is now and will forever be my home, and I'm not going to turn my back while it slides into authoritarianism.' Another reader in Norway, who renounced in 2011, cited 'ridiculous tax law' as a main motivation but added: 'I'm living my best life in a country with peace and prosperity.'
Concerns About Accidental Americans and Voting
A parent of 'accidental Americans' described the financial and administrative burden, saying: 'What I imagined as a gift... has turned into a burden.' Another reader urged expats to keep citizenship to vote: 'US citizens living abroad have provided the margin of victory in critical races... the world desperately needs your vote.'
One working-class American expressed contempt for wealthy renouncers: 'I have no respect or admiration for whiny rich people... If some are too privileged to stand up and confront evil, then I call them what they are: cowards.'
