While countless celebrities voiced their opposition to Donald Trump during his presidency, few took such a bold step as Ellen DeGeneres. The beloved former daytime talk show host recently revealed that she has left the United States for good — and she’s pointing the finger squarely at Trump.
Over the weekend, Ellen confirmed that she and her wife, Portia de Rossi, have made the UK their permanent home. The catalyst? Trump’s resurgence in the political arena.
“We arrived just the day before the election,” Ellen shared at a recent event in Cheltenham. “The next morning, our phones blew up with texts from friends filled with crying emojis. That’s when I realized, ‘He’s back.’ And that’s when we said, ‘We’re staying here.’”
A Self-Imposed Exile Sparked by a Democratic Election
At 67, Ellen DeGeneres and her 52-year-old wife, Portia de Rossi, have settled into a peaceful new life in the picturesque Cotswolds. Far from the glitz and glamor of the U.S.—the country that catapulted Ellen to fame and fortune—they’re embracing what she calls a “simpler” lifestyle.
“Everything here is just better,” Ellen enthused, praising Britain’s “polite people,” “clean air,” and “the way animals are treated” as just a few reasons she prefers life across the pond.
Yet, while some view their move as a personal choice, others question why a star who built her empire on American audiences and networks would so openly turn her back on her homeland — especially over the outcome of a democratic election.
Warnings, Politics, and Backlash
During the discussion, Ellen didn’t hold back on sensitive topics, also expressing concerns about emerging debates in the U.S. surrounding same-sex marriage laws. She warned that if “reversals” were to happen, she and Portia might consider legally tying the knot again — but this time, on British soil.
“The Baptist Church in America is actively trying to reverse gay marriage,” Ellen claimed. “They’re working to literally stop it from happening in the future.”
Although the Supreme Court has yet to overturn same-sex marriage—and even with President Trump appointing justices who upheld key LGBTQ+ rights—Ellen’s remarks tap into a wider wave of celebrity alarmism that doesn’t always align with political realities.
Critics say this latest outburst fits a familiar pattern for DeGeneres: favoring dramatic, self-focused narratives just as public trust in her authenticity continues to wane.
Reputation Still on Shaky Ground After Talk Show Scandal
Ellen’s political outspokenness comes amid efforts to recover from a serious public backlash. In 2020, her long-running talk show was rocked by scandal when multiple former employees described a toxic and abusive workplace. Though Ellen apologized, the fallout left a lasting dent in her reputation.
By 2022, The Ellen DeGeneres Show came to an end after nearly two decades, marking the close of an era. Since then, Ellen has mostly stepped away from the public eye—until she resurfaced earlier this year with a Netflix special.
Her comeback, Ellen DeGeneres: For Your Approval, was met with harsh criticism. With a dismal 33% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, viewers called out the special’s defensive tone and questioned its sincerity.
“I have to just trust that whatever happened during that time… happened for a reason,” Ellen told The Hollywood Reporter in a rare moment of reflection.
Now, surrounded by countryside tranquility, a few chickens, and sharing bright, optimistic rainbow posts on Instagram, Ellen is embracing a self-imposed exile—one she candidly admits began the moment Donald Trump re-entered the political spotlight.