Skip Forward
To illustrate the mood of the American elite following Donald Trump’s election victory, James Cameron wouldn’t need to reshoot Titanic. Instead, he could simply play it in reverse: Kate Winslet’s character sails away from New York, returns to the ship, picks up Leonardo DiCaprio’s character as he emerges from the ocean, and together they happily set off back to the shores of the Old World.
The prospect of peace without war and Trump’s promises to “Make America Great Again” somehow failed to spark widespread enthusiasm among American celebrities, most of whom openly supported the Democratic candidate Kamala Harris. The chance to see up close what “great America” means to a narcissistic and unpredictable future president proved so unacceptable for many famous figures that they began planning a “temporary exit” across the ocean. Considering how harshly and critically many public personalities have spoken about Trump—who is also known for his vengefulness and long memory—spending his term on another continent may not be the worst option.
For instance, Hollywood actor Tom Hanks has reportedly already left the United States. An open letter, allegedly penned by him, has circulated online, in which he explains his decision:
"With a heavy heart and an even heavier suitcase, I announce: I have officially left the country. Yes, you heard that right—I’m writing this from a far-off, unknown place with a stunning view of… well, somewhere that’s definitely not America. Why am I here, you ask? Let’s just say President Trump 2.0 turned out to be a bit more than I was prepared for. When I saw the results, I thought, ‘Run, Forrest, run!’—and that’s exactly what I did. Not to mention, the fear of ending up in federal prison made me run faster than a castaway chasing a volleyball.”
A long-time supporter of the Democratic Party, Hanks urges his fans not to view his departure as an escape but purely as a “long vacation for political reasons,” promising that he will return in time for the next election.
Of course, Tom Hanks is not the only public figure entering forced exile. Barbie star America Ferrera is also preparing to leave due to Kamala Harris’s loss and plans to relocate to London with her family.
“Voting for Kamala means voting to preserve our human rights, dignity, and freedom! We are better than the hateful rhetoric that tears each other down. Kamala believes in a future that includes all of us. We can fight for the promises of our country, and we can win!” Ferrera declared a week before the election.
Due to a personal conflict with Donald Trump, members of the British royal family—Prince Harry and Meghan Markle—may also leave the United States, with rumours even circulating about the possibility of deportation. Markle has been sharply critical of Trump for his sexist and chauvinistic remarks dating back to his first term.
Actress Minnie Driver, who returned to the UK from Los Angeles after 30 years, cited Trump’s re-election as a significant inconvenience for her.
“If I lived in a red [Republican] state, I wouldn’t be able to return. But living in California, you’re somewhat insulated. Yet, do you want to leave and live in a bubble? Do you flee the fire, or do you stay and help put it out?” she remarked.
Sophie Turner, the Game of Thrones star, has also relocated back to her homeland, London, and has no plans to return to Hollywood anytime soon, despite her continued demand as an actress.
Legendary actress and singer Barbra Streisand, in an interview with Stephen Colbert, declared that she would find it impossible to live in the US if Trump were re-elected president. The 82-year-old hinted strongly that she is considering moving to the UK should the Democrats lose.
Across the Atlantic but not to England, Basic Instinct star Sharon Stone is eyeing a move to Italy. In summer 2024, just days after an assassination attempt on Trump, she told Daily Mail that she was exploring properties in Italy as a contingency if the provocative Republican leader returned to the White House:
“I think it’s a sensible decision at this point. This is one of the first times in my life I’ve truly seen someone running for president on a platform of hate and oppression.”
American King of Horror, writer Stephen King, has never hidden his anti-Trump stance, once calling Trump’s potential presidency “scarier than anything I’ve written in my novels.” After the election results were announced, King posted:
“Many stores selling beautiful but fragile things have signs: you can look, you can touch, but once you break it, you’ve bought it. The same goes for democracy.”
For now, King is planning only an internal exile—he has officially left the social media platform X (formerly Twitter) due to the toxic policies of its owner, businessman and Trump supporter Elon Musk. Interestingly, there’s discord even within Musk’s own family. His daughter, Vivian Jenna Wilson, announced on social media that she is contemplating leaving the US:
“I’ve been thinking about it for a while, but yesterday I decided. I don’t see my future in the United States. Even if the president is only in office for four years, even if anti-trans laws somehow don’t pass, the people who willingly voted for this aren’t going anywhere anytime soon.”
It’s not only American celebrities who are unwilling to endure four more years of Trump in the Oval Office. According to Reuters, after Trump’s victory, ordinary Americans began searching en masse for emigration options. The query “moving to Canada” surged by 1,270% within 24 hours of US polling stations closing. Clearly, many Americans are worried about their country and safety.
Tourism company Villa Vie Residences has proposed a unique solution for political emigrants: a chance to ride out Trump’s term on a four-year round-the-world trip called Skip Forward. The cruise will visit 140 countries across all continents and cost $260,000. While it’s not cheap, the opportunity to endure a “global political flood” on a temporary ark might be worth the price.