Ellen Degeneres, Rosie O’Donnell, Eva Longoria. These are the celebrities who have left the US for political reasons

Earlier this week, actress and comedian Rosie O’Donnell revealed that she moved to Ireland on January 15, shortly after Donald Trump was elected as president. In a nearly 10-minute video, she explained that as both a woman and a part of the LGBTQ community, she no longer felt safe in America and is working on getting her Irish citizenship by way of her ancestry.

O’Donnell isn’t the only celebrity to have that idea though. There have been a few A-listers who’ve decided to leave the United States for political reasons. Here are a few others.

Celebrities who left the U.S. for political reasons

Sophie Turner

“Game of Thrones” actress Sophie Turner returned home to live in the UK after six years of living in the United States. While her nostalgia and homesickness played a big part in her return, she mentioned that she was also getting worried with U.S. politics.

“The gun violence, Roe v Wade being overturned … everything just kind of piled on," said Turner.

Eva Longoria

Actress Eva Longoria announced she would be moving to Spain in 2024, saying that she’d already felt a change happening in the country before the COVID-19 pandemic, but then that “pushed it over the edge”.

“Whether it’s the homelessness or the taxes - not that I want to shit on California – it just feels like this chapter in my life is done now,“ said Longoria.

“I’m privileged. I get to escape and go somewhere,” she continued. “Most Americans aren’t so lucky. They’re going to be stuck in this dystopian country, and my anxiety and sadness is for them.”

Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi

In November 2024, comedian Ellen DeGeneres and her wife, actress Portia de Rossi moved to rural England. A source close to the couple told TheWrap that Trump’s election was the main motivator and they are “never coming back.”

Laverne Cox

“Orange is the New Black” actress Laverne Cox spoke on the podcast “Just for Variety” about the impact of Trump’s presidency on the transgender community. Though she hasn’t made the move yet, she said that she and some friends are considering it seriously. Laverne is transgender and a huge advocate for the LGBTQ community.

“We’re doing research on different cities in Europe and in the Caribbean,” Cox said. “I don’t want to be in too much fear, but I’m scared. As a public figure, with all my privilege, I’m scared, and I’m particularly scared because I’m a public figure. I feel like I could be targeted.”

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