When immigration lawyer Jeremy Bierbach woke up the morning after Trump’s 2024 election victory, his inbox told a story. Dozens of desperate messages from Americans flooded in—all asking the same question: How fast can I get out? This Trump LGBTQ exodus abroad was no longer theoretical—it’s happening in real time.
“About a fifth of these inquiries came from LGBTQ+ people,” Bierbach told NBC from his Amsterdam office. “They weren’t asking about vacation homes. These were people making escape plans.”
Six months into Trump’s second presidency, that trickle has become a torrent.
The administration’s rollback of transgender recognition, healthcare protections, and civil rights—paired with new anti-LGBTQ+ policies—has sparked a modern exodus of Queer Americans seeking safety abroad. Possible Supreme Court rulings could make things even worse.
‘Trumpugees’ by the Numbers
The statistics are staggering. A Harris Poll reveals that 42% of Americans have considered leaving the country. The number jumps to 52% of millennials and 63% of Gen Z.
GTFO Tours, a company that helps Americans relocate to the Netherlands, reported a 200% spike in relocation inquiries after Trump deployed the National Guard in LA.
The Netherlands reports record-breaking applications, and for many, the urgency is existential. This year alone, over 950 anti-transgender bills have been introduced in state legislatures.
The same NBC report featured a Trans artist who relocated to Amsterdam and put it bluntly: “For many of us, staying felt like a death sentence.” The Trump LGBTQ exodus abroad has turned Amsterdam into a symbol of queer refuge.
Why Amsterdam? Safety, Community, and Jockstrap Parties
Europe has emerged as a preferred destination, with the Netherlands leading the pack thanks to an obscure Cold War treaty. The Dutch-American Friendship Treaty (DAFT) allows Americans to obtain residency by investing $5,200 in a small business. It remains one of the most accessible European visas.
But it’s about more than just escaping political headwinds. Amsterdam offers dynamic drag nights, legendary bars, and community spaces modeled on the best of American queer districts. There’s a sense of belonging that’s harder and harder to find at home.
And let’s be real: the Netherlands isn’t just legal weed and bike paths. It’s themed underwear parties, open-air art shows, one of the best Pride celebrations anywhere—and a commitment to joy in all its rainbow forms.
Amsterdam’s mix of legal protections and vibrant queer culture explains its popularity. But it’s not the only destination seeing an influx of American emigrants. Portugal and Spain offer similar legal frameworks with lower costs of living, while Mexico has become the top choice by sheer numbers—now hosting 1.6 million American expats, more than any other country worldwide. Canada remains the most searched destination (searches spiked 1,200% after Trump’s win), though stricter immigration policies have actually reduced American relocations there in 2025.
The Privilege Problem
But these escape routes aren’t available to everyone. This exodus reveals uncomfortable truths about who gets to leave. DAFT visas and international relocations require significant resources—financial cushions that many vulnerable LGBTQ+ Americans simply don’t have.
“Everyone’s exploring any possible way to get out, but not everyone can,” explains Topher Gross, a trans stylist who moved to Amsterdam four years ago. “Many trans people of color can’t afford to leave. It’s terrifying.”
For those without thousands to invest in business visas, some have turned to seeking asylum. The surge has prompted one Dutch advocacy group, LGBT Asylum Support, to push their government toward an unprecedented step: officially recognizing the United States as unsafe for LGBTQ+ people and offering asylum protections to American queer refugees. The group provides legal support and housing assistance to LGBTQ+ asylum seekers, but has never dealt with this volume of Americans before.
Legal experts consider such recognition highly unlikely, calling it “too provocative” diplomatically. Yet the fact that it’s even being discussed reflects how dire the situation has become for America’s most vulnerable queer communities.