Ellen DeGeneres, the former talk show host, has confirmed she and her wife, Portia de Rossi, have permanently relocated to the UK’s Cotswolds, driven by Donald Trump’s re-election as U.S. president. In a July 20, 2025, conversation at Cheltenham’s Everyman Theatre with broadcaster Richard Bacon, DeGeneres affirmed reports that Trump’s victory prompted their decision. “We got here the day before the election and woke up to texts with crying emojis,” she said. “I was like, ‘He got in.’ And we’re like, ‘We’re staying here.’” Initially planning a part-time residence, the couple decided to stay year-round, selling their $96 million Montecito, California, estate in August 2024.
DeGeneres praised the UK’s “simpler way of life,” citing its beauty, polite culture, and better animal treatment. She expressed concerns about U.S. policies, particularly the Southern Baptist Convention’s June 2025 push to reverse same-sex marriage, prompting her and de Rossi to consider remarrying in the UK for legal security. A 2025 Pew Research poll shows 71% of Americans support same-sex marriage, yet nine states have introduced reversal bills, heightening fears.
The move follows DeGeneres’ 2022 talk show exit amid toxic workplace allegations, which she addressed in her 2024 Netflix special, admitting to being “blunt” but dismissing “mean” labels as clickbait. Her departure aligns with other celebrities, like Rosie O’Donnell, who relocated to Ireland, citing political unease. As DeGeneres settles into rural life, sharing glimpses of her farm animals, the question remains: is this a stand against Trump’s America or a personal reinvention?
