Dual-national American readers across Europe say they would give up their US passports to stay European if they were forced to, with many citing political disillusionment, fears for safety, and the feeling of belonging to their adopted country.

On December 1st 2025, Republican Senator Bernie Moreno of Ohio introduced the "Exclusive Citizenship Act of 2025” to the US Senate. The proposed bill, if it ever became law, would effectively force Americans to choose between their American passport and any foreign citizenship. Understandably it sparked shockwaves among US passport holders living in Europe and around the world.

While many have dismissed the bill as fanciful, publicity-seeking and against the constitution—pointing out it could never pass given how many people it would impact, including First Lady Melania Trump who is a dual Slovenian-American national—it has nonetheless raised big questions about the value of an American passport to those living abroad.

To gauge the sentiment among our readers, we asked Americans in Europe if they would you give up their US citizenship to stay or become European.

Here’s what our readers thought.

Almost half ready to relinquish passport

The survey revealed that almost half of respondents, (72 out of 146), would give up their US citizenship if forced to choose. However, most expressed sadness at the decision. The reasons given ranged from political and social alienation from the US to a preference for European lifestyle and infrastructure.

Broad political disillusionment with the direction of US politics underpinned the reasoning of many respondents. For some, this culminated in the shaking of their American identity.

"I don’t want to live there again, the financial reporting burdens are stupid, a German passport is stronger, and I just don’t want to be ‘American’ anymore," said Dr. Sara Anthony, 36, from Oregon, who lives in Münster, Germany.

Patrick L., 38, from Wisconsin, living in Berlin, Germany, sympathises. “Although I feel American in my heart, I don’t really recognise the country that I grew up in.”

Many respondents simply said they now felt more at home in the countries they live in than the US and they see their future this side of the Atlantic.

Angela from Michigan said: “It would tear a hole in my heart if I had to choose, but I would choose French. I have already lived longer in Paris than in any other place in my lifeI feel very much at home here.”

Ryan from California agreed, saying “My life is here, my wife is French, my child will be French when we expect our first. My future is French, not American.”

Many respondents cited fears for the direction the US is heading in, with personal safety being a common concern. Orion Diamond, 31, from Arizona, living in Lund, Sweden, told us that “I love my country..., but I feel more and more alienated from the US and politically scared. I’m transgender and fear… for my life in at least half of US states.”

This sentiment was shared by Eden Gallanter, from San Francisco, living in Stockholm, Sweden. He told The Local that “My wife, daughter and I fled the US to live in Sweden and we plan to stay here because my wife, a trans immigrant, doesn’t feel safe in the USA.”

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Both gender identity and minority status remain a pressing concern for many with roots in the US. An anonymous reader living in Germany explained how they feel as an ethnic minority in America:“[I’m] part of a minority group that has always struggled to feel like I belong or that America cares about me.” Like many readers who responded along these lines, however, they expressed concern about the surge of right wing views right here on our doorstep. “I am also becoming more worried about the direction Germany may be headed.”

Politics aside, quite a few argued that they preferred the economic and quality-of-life benefits of Europe. While many pointed to the potential financial issues of revoking their US citizenship, some readers believe that their working conditions are far better in Europe.

READ ALSO: How Americans in Europe are struggling to renounce their US citizenship

“Considering I make more money riding a bike for Foodora in Sweden than I did as a Machine Operator in a plastics mold injection factory in the US, I have no desire to return” said Zachery Schaftlein, 31, from Tennessee, who lives and works in Stockholm, Sweden.

Richard DeCarlo, 57, from Buffalo New York, living in the rural south of France, pointed to the grind of American culture on both people and the planet. Instead, he would prefer to live in “a society that focuses on family, enjoying life and work life balance. [One] that embraces... the future of clean and renewable energy, infrastructure and public transportation”.

But one anonymous reader living in Sweden succinctly summed up the spectrum of potential reasons for revoking American citizenship, should the bill pass. “American schools are unsafe, the future of its social security programs are uncertain, the cost of healthcare is impoverishing, the cost of housing is extreme. The country has traded the wellbeing of its future generations to line the pockets of those who are wealthy”.

Why the quarter who said ‘no’ are holding on

Around a quarter of respondents, on the other hand, reported that they would keep their US citizenship, if forced to choose. Their stance was driven by a combination of financial and emotional factors, as well as a sense of national loyalty.

Some pointed to the high financial and logistical costs of renouncing US citizenship, which can involve complex US tax laws and concerns over retirement savings.

“The economic costs of renouncing us citizenship is too high. I have retirement savings and social security savings that would be in jeopardy” said Ian, 47, living in Stockholm. Charles Vestal, 43, living in Berlin agreed that it would be “prohibitively expensive to do so”.

Others cited emotional and identity ties, viewing the act of renouncing as an unnecessary abandonment. “Your heart can be in two countries, but to turn your back completely on the US is absurd” said Conner, 36, from California, who lives in Ireland.

Ultimately, many shared the view that, while they might not agree with everything that comes out of the US, their citizenship is closely tied to their identity. Kent Ozkum 63 from Washington DC living in Nice told us that he simply “wouldn’t feel comfortable that I would ever be considered fully European”.

The undecided

Given the deeply personal and complicated nature of the question, it’s unsurprising that such a large number of respondents were undecided. They struggled with the balancing of family ties and financial risk against deep political reservations that the decision would call for.

“It all depends on whether a MAGA-Style mentality continues to drive the Republican Party and [if] it looks like the Republicans will stay in control of the government..” explained Larry Schulz, 79, from Chicago Area, who’s lived in Munich since 1980.

Bob, 64, from Colorado pointed out that, for now, the decision isn’t one he needs to make. “The biggest question is "Do I need to do so today, or can I wait?" Right now, I can wait. Tomorrow though...”.

Of course, no one should be shredding their passport just yet. According to a recent YouGov poll, only 31 percent of Americans say that naturalized citizens should be required to give up citizenship in any other country. Secondly and more importantly, it’s against the constitution.

“The Fourteenth Amendment guarantees that all persons born or naturalized in the United States are citizens”, and on top of this, the Supreme Court has continuously affirmed that the government can’t remove US citizenship as a punishment or policy change.

Regardless, it has clearly raised big questions for Americans who’ve established a new life abroad. It’s questionable as to whether Moreno predicted the potential backlash of a policy that would force a reflection on allegiance given the tumultuous recent political history of the US. What’s clear is that for many US citizens living in Europe surveyed, the future is becoming increasingly rooted in Europe.

**Thanks to all those who took part on the survey. **