Ellen Degeneres has reportedly swapped the glamour of Los Angeles for the scenery of the British Cotswolds following the election of Donald Trump as US president.
The presenter and her wife Portia de Rossi are said to have become “very disillusioned” with the prospect of life in America under the Republican president-elect and said they were “never coming back”.
Mr Trump’s election win has led to an outpouring of grief from America’s more liberal voters, as well as international concern at what his presidency will mean for climate change, women’s reproductive rights, geo-political security and the survival of democracy itself.
Ms Degeneres has apparently put her money (and mortgage) where her mouth is and followed through on a pledge that other Democratic supporting celebrities have made.
We have not yet had reports of any other A-listers fleeing the US ahead of Mr Trump’s inauguration in January (nor, for that matter, stories of Cotswolds residents saying they’re putting their homes up for sale to avoid their new neighbour).
It’s unclear whether the celebs in question meant what they said, but here are those high-profile personalities who suggested they would ditch the US.
Cher
Cher has made no secret of her opposition to Mr Trump’s government, previously stating she’d even try to leave the planet if he became president.
In 2023, the musician once again repeated her commitment to leaving the country if Mr Trump was re-elected, explaining that she developed health issues the first time around.
"I almost got an ulcer the last time. If he gets in, who knows? This time I will leave [the country],” Cher told the Guardian in 2023.
As a staunch advocate for trans rights, the 78-year-old star urged people to remain united instead of being drawn into the Republican’s attempts to stoke division.
“It’s something like 500 bills they’re trying to pass,” Cher said about the anti-trans movement. “I was with two trans girls the other night – and, of course, my own child [Chaz is trans]. I was saying, ‘We’ve got to stand together.’ I don’t know what their eventual plan is for trans people. I don’t put anything past them.”
Sharon Stone
Earlier this year, American actor and film producer Sharon Stone suggested she was eyeing up a house in Europe should Mr Trump be re-elected.
Speaking to the Mail Online, Stone admitted: “I am certainly considering a house in Italy.”
Reflecting on what she didn’t like abut the Trump camp, Stone explained that she felt the Republican candidate was running a campaign of “hate”.
She added: “I think that’s an intelligent construct at this time. This is one of the first times in my life that I’ve actually seen anyone running for office on a platform of hate and oppression.”
Barbara Streisand
Actor and singer Barbra Streisand suggested that she liked the idea of living in the UK, should Mr Trump return to power this time around.
Speaking to talk show host Stephen Colbert in late 2023, the 82-year-old star voiced her disapproval of the Republican candidate.
“I can’t live in this country if he becomes president,” she said.
Following Mr Trump’s election, she took to social media where she said there were “no words left”.
In another post, she added: “Kamala Harris sent us off with a hopeful message when she said, ‘Only when it is dark enough can you see the stars.’ Thank you, Kamala.”
It’s not the first time that the film star has suggested she would quit the US, having previously expressed a similar sentiment ahead of the 2016 election.
“I’m either coming to your country, if you’ll let me in, or Canada,” she said in a 60 Minutes interview at the time, although she never followed through on her pledge.
Whoopi Goldberg
Whoopi Goldberg pledged to exile herself in 2016 but ultimately did not leave - leading to Mr Trump mocking her online.
“Canada doesn’t want you Whoopi, NOBODY DOES!” he said at the time.
The actress has, unsurprisingly, not come around to Mr Trump and continues to be a critic.
She has not clarified her intentions this time around.
Other stars who promised to leave
When Mr Trump first ran for president in 2016, several other stars also vowed to leave the country, including Miley Cyrus, Bryan Cranston, Lena Dunham, and Samuel L Jackson.
However, most later backpedalled on their claims and decided to stay.
