Imagine having a gun pointed at you during a routine highway drive. For Earl Wagner, this terrifying moment in Houston, Texas, was the final push he needed to leave the U.S. 🇺🇸→🇵🇹
Earl, now living in Lisbon, told CGTN Stringer that rising right-wing radicalization and pervasive gun culture convinced him to start fresh in Portugal. 🌱 'Guns are everywhere,' he said. 'It’s not the America I grew up loving.'
He’s not alone. A 2022 Gallup poll found 15% of Americans want to leave the U.S. permanently—and even more are quietly packing their bags. 📦 From safety concerns to political tensions, young professionals and families are redefining the 'American Dream'… overseas.
Could this exodus reshape global demographics? 💡 One thing’s clear: This isn’t just Earl’s story—it’s a growing trend. 🌏✨
