Americans in Prague on Trump win: Mixed views on taxes, human rights, and the future

With over 10,000 Americans calling Czechia home, the impact of the 2024 U.S. election is already being felt, even from afar. Donald Trump’s victory has sent ripples through the expat community in Prague, stirring concerns—but also hope—about everything from healthcare access to tax reforms and social issues.

We spoke with several Americans living in Prague to understand how the election result is reshaping their perspectives—from social issues like reproductive rights to practical concerns about life in the U.S. under Trump’s leadership. Here’s how the outcome affects their futures, both at home and abroad.

Answers have been edited for length and clarity

Brittany, an American expat from Missouri living in Prague, shared that healthcare and reproductive rights are her primary concerns. Though living abroad might make some policies feel like distant news, the implications of a Trump victory hit too close to home. 

“While these policies don’t directly affect my daily life, I’m particularly concerned about their impact back home in Missouri,” she said. “Families are losing loved ones simply because individuals no longer have the right to make choices about their own bodies.”

Brittany admits her anxiety isn’t just about her rights but for the loved ones she left behind. “I am deeply concerned for my family and friends back home,” she said. “And after Trump’s win, I can’t help but worry about what kind of country I would be returning to, if and when I eventually move back to the U.S.”

Another American living in Czechia, originally from Indiana, told us she now feels even more “uncomfortable” about being from the U.S. overseas. “No matter what side you’re on, you will likely be in an awkward situation if [the election] is brought up. I think people are looking a lot at America right now and it’s just not the best example to be looking at.”

Like others, the result now makes her think about—and question—her return to the U.S.  “At some point, I want to go back to America, and I want to be with my family, but this election is going to make me consider how long I’m in Czechia unfortunately and also if I will try out another country rather than return to the U.S.,” she said.

She went on to express her concern over the potential for increased hate and division.

“Mostly, my concern is the hate and the respect for humans—the people who don’t fit his ideal image—who will suffer if he gets back into office,” she said. “It’s making me seriously reconsider my plans to move back. I want to go home to my family one day, but I’m questioning whether it will be to the U.S. or another country entirely.”

Emily, a Colorado native living in Prague, spoke candidly about her fears. “Trump’s victory impacts both my healthcare options and my sense of safety in the U.S.,” she said. Although she still carries U.S. health insurance, her trips back to the States are often centered around medical appointments. 

“Despite being from a blue state, I’m deeply concerned about women’s reproductive rights being on the line after Trump’s win,” she said. “This issue affects not only me but my sisters and all my female friends back home.”

Beyond healthcare, Emily is also troubled by Trump’s policies that threaten the freedoms of her friends in marginalized communities, saying this was one of the reasons she left in the first place.

Lily, originally from North Carolina, told us how Trump’s plan to cut funds to the Department of Education may affect her sister's career path. “A lot of my friends have families who were hit really hard by the hurricane—I also worry how Trump’s plan to cut  Federal Emergency Management Agency spending will ruin their lives,” she added.

Based in Prague for a year, she said: “I was never voting for myself, I was voting for my friends and family. I feel like they have been let down.”

Victoria, a Republican voter from Louisiana who studies in the Czech Republic, expressed more optimism after Trump’s victory. 

“Myself and other Americans abroad face double [citizenship-based] taxation, paying income tax in both their host country and the U.S. Trump has pledged to end this, while [U.S. Vice President] Harris didn’t commit to a solution.”

She also expressed confidence about the possibility of living costs declining in the U.S. “Inflation and rising costs [in America] are also major concerns, especially in lower-wage countries like Czechia, which make visits home costly.”

She concluded: “Republican efforts could improve the quality of life and create a fairer tax structure for Americans overseas while making it more feasible for them to visit or even relocate back to the U.S.”

Prague-based Chris from Michigan, who voted Democrat this election, describes a jubilant scene, complete with “Make America Great Again” hats at his Prague office. “Every male in my office is for Trump. Mainly they’re happy about Bitcoin stock and the US dollar conversion rate going up, so their paychecks are better.”