Rich and Famous Americans Flee to the UK Due to “Toxic” Political Climate and Government Scandals in the U.S.
Rich U.S. Citizens are not only renting but also buying expensive properties in the UK as they seek refuge from the increasingly turbulent political landscape in the U.S.
Following Donald Trump’s return to the White House, affluent Americans are relocating en masse to exclusive areas of Britain, aiming to wait out the term of the 47th president, reports the Daily Mail.
Investment in UK real estate has become more appealing for American families, who are actively renting or purchasing properties in prestigious London neighborhoods such as Notting Hill, Kensington, and Hampstead.
The so-called “Donald Dash” was reinforced by data from the Home Office this week, showing that applications for British citizenship surged in the last quarter of 2024, rising by 40% year-over-year.
In fact, over 6,100 U.S. citizens applied for UK citizenship last year—the highest figure recorded in two decades and a 26% increase from 2023.
Among the celebrities who have already moved to the UK are Ellen DeGeneres and her wife, Portia de Rossi, designer Tom Ford, and Hollywood couple Ryan Gosling and Eva Mendes.
Other high-profile stars including actress America Ferrera have settled in London, as she was spotted touring schools in West London – after saying she wanted to leave the US when Trump was elected.
According to a real estate agent from Notting Hill, the number of wealthy American families relocating has “skyrocketed” since Trump’s victory.
“Just last week, we moved a Marvel actress into a house right around the corner,” the agent said.
Journalists noted that one American couple, who had sold their mansion in Holland Park hoping to return to the U.S. under Kamala Harris’s leadership, was forced to purchase a new home in London instead.
Lynsey Blyth, an immigration law partner at the national firm Michelmores LLP, stated that this trend comes as no surprise.
“Given the increasing instability in the Oval Office and the wide range of immigration options in the UK, I expect we’ll see even more cases like this over the next four years,” she said.
She added that events such as the Oval Office scandal involving Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelensky, along with Europe’s negative reaction, are “motivating those considering a move to the UK to start filing applications now.”
Steven Pattin, a lettings negotiator for Marsh & Parsons in Notting Hill, confirmed a 30-40% increase in demand for rentals and purchases, with around 60 inquiries per week coming from U.S. citizens.
“I’ve noticed that last year I dealt with 10 to 15 Americans per week, whereas normally it’s just one or two. Now, I’m actively working with 70 clients—at least 50 of them are American,” he said.
Several immigration lawyers have also confirmed a significant surge in wealthy U.S. citizens moving to the UK, particularly to areas like West London, following Trump’s re-election in November.
“There’s no doubt that record numbers of Americans are coming to the UK right now. I’d say part of it is economic—the dollar is currently strong against the pound, making investments attractive. Plus, elite real estate in affluent London areas like Bayswater and Chelsea is at its lowest price in decades. But Trump’s return to the White House is undoubtedly the biggest driving force behind the exodus of wealthy and influential Americans to the United Kingdom.
Trump’s tax breaks for the wealthy should, in theory, make staying in the U.S. more financially advantageous—but despite that, they’re still flocking to Britain,” said Raman Kaushal, an immigration and human rights solicitor.
