Why this US historian is leaving Trump’s America

Amid the drama and turmoil created by Donald Trump’s second presidency, U.S. historian and author Marci Shore last week announced that she — along with her husband, historian Timothy Snyder, and colleague Jason Stanley — would be leaving their posts at Yale University and moving to Canada to teach at the University of Toronto. Shore, Snyder, and Stanley have all been vocal pro-Ukraine advocates, particularly throughout Russia’s full-scale invasion, visiting the country multiple times between them and educating audiences in the U.S. with what they’ve learned.

The Kyiv Independent’s Chris York spoke to Shore to find out what made them take such a drastic decision, and if she believes she can continue to advocate for Ukraine, in the U.S., from Canada.

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[ivsab]

Marci Shore is not neurotic at all. She knows her history and she sees clearly. These are dangerous times. America's loss is Canada's gain.

[robblakeslee]

A large proportion of Americans have absolutely no idea what level of terror and chaos awaits us in the very near future.

[MaryHoffmann-zs]

I'm a WW2 history buff and the interview with Zelensky was the icing on the cake for me, too! I was literally sick to my stomach.

[belle-ogilvie]

As an American mother to a teenage daughter, I am at a crossroads. On one side I can stay and teach her to fight for her rights and freedom and on the other side I can take her to a place where her rights and freedom are given protection.
I am not a professor but I have read the history books and they tell me stories of those who got out before the reign of terror and those who did not. I do not want to willingly allow my daughter to be put through what is coming.

[LOLO-lmpr]

So glad she and her husband are leaving this fascist uprising. Canada will welcome them.

[marykayryan]

I had a friend in Ireland-a German woman in her 90's-who had a distinct memory of being a little girl and her father coming home and saying to his wife, my friend's mother, "People are disappearing at the University. We have to get out of here NOW." And so they left. And BTW, they were not Jews. They were Mennonites, many of whom stood against the Nazis and were murdered. So she was alive because her dad saw what was coming. You are NOT a neurotic catastrophist. You are a woman who knows history and knows the potential of this moment.

[Patricia-kwq]

The brain drain is just starting in America this also happened in Germany 🇩🇪.

[mettebryans]

I'm neither Jewish, neurotic, nor a historian, and I left after spending my entire adulthood in US. Just can't stomach the stupid.

[Amberabove]

It does matter who's in government, not so much in the short-term, but if Americans can consistently elect people who are financially responsible and not corrupt, then we can turn this trend around. It will take a long time and Americans aren't known for electing financially educated people into office so it's more likely America will simply collapse under the weight of the stupidity of its people while politicians launder all the money they can through pet projects and wars.

[tonycaine]

"America will not be destroyed from the outside. It will be destroyed from within." - Ben Franklin

[gregorywarnshuis]

As an American and a student and professor of history, my first chilling intimation that we were, as a nation, were drifting toward fascism, came when I witnessed General Michael Flynn leading a chant at the Repubican National Convention of "Lock her up, " referring to Hillary Clinton. This was nothing short of mob rule and a tried and true tactic of fascists. Last November, we had, again as a country, the most important moral choice since the Civil War. We failed it and now we are getting the consequences. We are witnessing the death throws of American democracy, the nullification of our Constitution and the destruction of the rules based order, underwritten by the United States, that has preserved peace in Europe for an unprecedented 80 years. Whether we survive as the aspiratoinal "City on a Hill" or decompose into Concentration Camps in the Desert is now the question and, to those familiar with history, the prospects are not looking good.

[LindaMurr-udbc]

Good for you!! At 82 I wish I could get out of this country . I am also a history major and know what happened 90 years ago. I am sickened and ashamed.😢😢😢😢

[CraigAnderson-hh]

The smart Germans, like Einstein, got out when the storm clouds were brewing...and they survived before Germany was turned into rubble.

[trique]

I am an American from Denver, Co. that left the USA in early 2019 to live in France. I thought to myself that I would return to the USA when the political situation calmed down there. But, it has become even worse, which is inconceivable. Ultimately, I will be staying in Europe, possibly for good

[boogeyman]

zelensky was not humiliated, he was assaulted. trump and vance were humiliated by trump and vance.

[patriciadobkin]

I am retired Jewish professor from McGill University, WELCOME to Canada! Fascism is already rampant in the USA.

[melissabruhn]

Thank you Marci Shore for this interview.
Have gratefully followed you, your husband Tim Snyder and Jason Stanley since 2015. Good luck in Toronto.

[cynthia]

EVERYTHING about this interview is EXCELLENT.
STAND STRONG!

[tonyray]

Canadian here, you will feel a lot different living in Canada. Eventually you will know why Canadians are so proud of their country.

[sydneyturner]

To elect Trump once was crazy but to elect him twice ?
Trump and Putin are two sides of the same coin