Ellen DeGeneres and her wife, Portia de Rossi, who moved to the UK last year vowing to stay after Donald Trump's election victory, are reportedly considering a return to the United States. The couple purchased a home in the Cotswolds and DeGeneres praised the UK during a public appearance in July, stating, "Everything here is just better." However, according to the Mail on Sunday, they now miss their friends and are reluctant to endure another British winter.
DeGeneres and de Rossi are not alone among celebrities who threatened to leave the US if Trump won but have since reconsidered. Comedian Amy Schumer said in 2016 she would "move to Spain or somewhere" if Trump won, later clarifying it was "said in jest." Miley Cyrus also made a similar threat in 2016, which she later retracted. Barbra Streisand threatened to leave before both the 2016 and 2024 elections but has not relocated.
Some US celebrities have actually emigrated. Courtney Love, who has lived in London since around 2019, plans to apply for British citizenship, citing the US political situation as "frightening." Rosie O'Donnell moved her family to Ireland, citing safety concerns for her non-binary child Clay. O'Donnell has a long-running feud with Trump, who recently said he was considering stripping her of US citizenship.
Beyond celebrities, a poll from the journal Nature found that 75% of US researchers are considering leaving the country, and international student interest is declining. Three Yale professors produced a video op-ed titled "We Study Fascism, and We're Leaving the US" before departing for Canada, highlighting broader concerns about the political climate.
