Trump’s Re-Election Drove Me Out of the U.S. – Ellen DeGeneres

Renowned American TV host Ellen DeGeneres has revealed that she and her wife, Portia de Rossi, relocated to the United Kingdom following Donald Trump’s re-election as President of the United States.

During a recent appearance at Cheltenham’s Everyman Theatre with broadcaster Richard Bacon, the 67-year-old comedian was asked whether their move was in response to Trump’s victory. Without hesitation, she responded, “Yes.”

DeGeneres explained that they had originally planned to stay in the UK for just a few months, but their plans changed after the election results.

“Yes,” she reiterated. “We got here the day before the election and woke up to lots of texts from our friends with crying emojis, and I was like, ‘He got in.’ And we’re like, ‘We’re staying here.’”

Sharing her experience of life in the UK, DeGeneres praised its charm, simplicity, and kindness compared to the U.S., which she described as increasingly unsafe for people to live authentically.

“It’s absolutely beautiful. We’re just not used to seeing this kind of beauty. The villages and the towns and the architecture – everything you see is charming and it is just a simpler way of life,” she said.

“It’s clean. Everything here is just better – the way animals are treated, people are polite. I just love it here.”

She added that they settled in the UK in November, even though it wasn’t the most ideal time weather-wise. Still, the move brought new experiences.

“We moved here in November, which was not the ideal time, but I saw snow for the first time in my life. We love it here. Portia flew her horses here, and I have chickens, and we had sheep for about two weeks.”

Reflecting on her past struggles, Ellen also spoke about the challenges she faced after coming out as gay in 1997—a move that, she said, led to her being “kicked out of show business twice.”

Despite progress in LGBTQ+ representation, DeGeneres said fear still holds many back from coming out.

“If it was [better], all these other people that are actors and actresses that I know they’re gay, they’d be out, but they’re not, because it’s still a problem. People are still scared,” she said.

Her comments have sparked renewed conversations about celebrity activism, LGBTQ+ rights, and the cultural contrasts between the U.S. and the UK.