Ellen DeGeneres Says She Relocated to Britain Because of Trump’s Re-Election

“Everything is just better here,” the former daytime talk show host icon said of her new life in England’s idyllic Cotswolds region.

Ellen DeGeneres speaks to the crowd during the launch of Michelle Obama's new book "The Light We Carry: Overcoming in Uncertain Times."LAPRESSE

LONDON — Ellen DeGeneres is embracing her life in the British countryside, sharing charming moments on social media: sheep casually wandering into her elegant rural residence while she trims the lawn herself — her famously platinum hair now grown out and naturally gray.

On Sunday, DeGeneres publicly confirmed for the first time that she had moved to the United Kingdom permanently — and the decisive factor, she said, was the election of Donald Trump as president in 2016.

“We arrived the day before the election and woke up to a flood of texts from our friends filled with crying emojis. I immediately thought, ‘He won.’ And we looked at each other and said, ‘We’re staying,’” she recounted during a live appearance at the Everyman Theatre in Cheltenham, a market town in central England.

Following the conclusion of her long-running talk show — which came to an end after accusations of workplace misconduct — DeGeneres, now 67, and her wife, Arrested Development actress Portia de Rossi, 52, purchased a home in the picturesque Cotswolds, a region celebrated for its rolling green hills and tranquil charm.

Characterized by its golden-hued stone buildings, vibrant countryside, and storybook villages, the 800-square-mile Cotswolds area has become a magnet for celebrities. Among its notable residents are David and Victoria Beckham, entertainment executive Simon Cowell, and supermodel Kate Moss.

Initially, the British estate was intended as an occasional getaway, she said. But when asked on Sunday whether Trump’s victory sealed their decision to make the move permanent, DeGeneres responded with a firm “Yes,” according to comments later confirmed as accurate by the theater.

“Everything here is just better,” she said, expressing disappointment over the condition of the United States.

“I really wish we were at a point where people didn’t feel afraid to live authentically. I wish we lived in a culture where everyone could be accepted for who they are and the ways they differ from others,” DeGeneres explained. “Until that becomes reality, it’s hard to claim we’ve made meaningful progress.”

A request for comment sent to the White House regarding her remarks was not immediately answered.

DeGeneres also commented on recent actions by the Southern Baptist Convention, which has supported banning same-sex marriage and has advocated reversing the Supreme Court’s ruling that legalized it across the country.

“They’re actually trying to make sure it doesn’t happen in the future — and possibly even undo what’s already been done,” she said. “Portia and I are already looking into it. If they go that route, we’ll get married here instead.”

She also opened up about the end of The Ellen DeGeneres Show, which ran for 19 seasons, spanned nearly two decades, and earned over 60 Emmy Awards. The show came under fire after staff members alleged that it fostered a toxic work culture.

“I’m someone who communicates directly, and I can be very blunt,” DeGeneres admitted. Then, after a pause, she added, “And maybe that comes across as… mean?”

Mark Goucher, chief executive of the Everyman Theatre, said in an email that it had been “a huge privilege to meet her and welcome her to The Everyman. Our doors will always be open to our new neighbor.”

DeGeneres is far from the only American who’s considered moving abroad in response to the country’s deepening social and political divide.

Around the time of President Joe Biden’s difficult televised debate against Donald Trump in June of last year, Google searches like “how to move to [another country]” began trending upward, according to analysis from CNBC.

Then in early February, just days after Trump was sworn in once again, a Talker Research survey of 2,000 Americans found that 17% expressed a desire to move out of the U.S. within the next five years. Canada emerged as the most popular potential destination. Of those respondents, 69% said they were unhappy with the direction the country was going in, and 65% believed the political climate had grown too hostile.

Trump has shown little patience for those expressing a desire to leave. In 2019, he famously said, “If you’re not happy, you can leave.”

While DeGeneres seems to be enjoying a peaceful new life in the English countryside, it’s worth noting that the U.K. comes with its own challenges.

Though Britain is often praised for its universal health care system, its robust public transit, and the absence of regular mass shootings, it falls behind the U.S. on several key quality-of-life metrics.

According to the Paris-based Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), which tracks global standards of living, the United States outperforms the United Kingdom in numerous categories. In the OECD’s “Better Life Index,” which measures aspects like housing, income, life satisfaction, community ties, and work-life balance, the U.S. ranks 10th out of 40 member nations. The U.K. comes in 14th.