#BoycottUSA—Politically Conscious Consumption in an Interdependent World
By Alexandra Scherrer
These days, news reports from the United States have forced a certain desensitisation on everyone trying to keep up with the latest updates. What would have been a headline five years ago is now relegated to side notes, because the unpredictability and cruelty of the Trump administration have become predictable.
All the more troubling are the reports that still manage to surpass each other in shock value, and January has seen a disturbing amount of those: from the ousting of Venezuelan head of state Nicolás Maduro, the fatal shooting of Renee Good by an ICE agent, to Trump’s military threats to Greenland and his declaration of ‘I don’t need international law’, tariff threats, and now the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti by ICE agents in Minneapolis. There is hardly any time to process the economic, historical, constitutional, and moral implications of any of this news.
Still, one trend has emerged: with many companies not only complying with the Trump administration’s demands but actively donating and supporting its missions, boycott movements are emerging, particularly in Canada and Europe. Back in February 2025, as a response to tariff threats and jokes—or possibly threats—about Canada becoming the 51st US state, 91% of Canadians stated that they wanted to rely less on US products, and many felt a surge in national pride, with ‘Buy Canadian instead’ signs filling supermarkets. Travel to the United States as a tourist destination has also declined significantly, with December 2025 being the eighth month in a row that reported a decline in visits.
The economy and price levels are regarded by Americans as the most important issues currently facing America. Yet, they are also some of the Trump administration’s weakest points in polls since its inauguration in January 2025. With the continuing use of tariffs as a threat, it seems Donald Trump may be underestimating the economic strength of Europe, especially when it acts united. So, for everyone outside of the United States who is wondering what they can do, vote with your dollar—or rather, your Euro!
A year into the Trump administration, boycott movements are only gaining more traction. In Denmark, apps to scan products to reveal their American heritage have just risen to the top spots in the Danish app store. As with all boycott movements, some measures are easier to implement than others. Unfortunately, the companies whose involvement with the current US administration has been most in the spotlight—specifically tech companies like Meta, Google, Apple, and Amazon—may also be the hardest to cut out entirely. Similarly, many subscriptions and sources of entertainment are US-based, such as Netflix, Disney+, Apple Music or anything from Hollywood. Avoiding these companies and products altogether may be nearly impossible. However, conscious choices and limitations may drive people to be more deliberate and responsible with their overall spending, for instance, having only one streaming subscription at a time or limiting social media usage. In connection with Trump’s Greenland threats, a Danish behavioural researcher has also described boycotting as a way to feel a sense of agency and an outlet for anger when confronted with the news. We should let go of an idealistic vision of a total boycott. Small, meaningful changes occurring on a large scale can still make a difference. The first step can be gaining awareness of which companies support the Trump administration and its policies most prominently.
For a first overview, you can have a look at the companies that donated to the White House ballroom; companies that have struck their DEI policies; a list of companies and people that have donated to the Trump campaign and inaugural fund; and companies that have active contracts with ICE. If you do decide to cancel a subscription, stop buying products from certain companies or choose to support brands that stand for what you believe in, let them know! Consumer pressure is a powerful weapon, and something that can be achieved from the comfort of your own couch. Consumption choices are powerful, and conscious choices are a great way to not only combat feelings of powerlessness when watching the news but also bring about real change.
