Former talk show host Ellen DeGeneres confirmed over the weekend that she and her wife, Portia de Rossi, relocated to the United Kingdom following the re-election of President Donald Trump — a move that had long been rumored and now officially acknowledged.
Speaking at an event in Cheltenham with British broadcaster Richard Bacon, the 67-year-old comedian cited the 2024 election outcome as the tipping point for their decision. “We got here the day before the election and woke up to lots of texts from our friends with crying emojis, and I was like, ‘He got in,’” DeGeneres said, according to the BBC. “And we’re like, ‘We’re staying here.’”
THE LONGER ELLEN DEGENERES stays in ENGLAND, the more she looks like KING CHARLES 😬😬 pic.twitter.com/44AepPT7vW
— MAGA Kitty (@SaveUSAKitty) July 21, 2025
DeGeneres expressed enthusiasm about her new surroundings, describing the English countryside as “absolutely beautiful” and “a simpler way of life.” She praised the architecture, cleanliness, and even the treatment of animals in Britain, adding, “Everything here is just better.”
Since their move in November, DeGeneres said she’s embraced rural life, noting that Portia brought her horses overseas while Ellen now tends to chickens. “We had sheep for about two weeks,” she joked.
When did Ellen Degeneres become Alfred E. Neuman? pic.twitter.com/vTOWN0tfNw
— Jim Hanson (@JimHansonDC) July 21, 2025
Beyond political motivations, DeGeneres also addressed persistent scrutiny over her public image, particularly allegations of a toxic workplace environment during her time hosting The Ellen DeGeneres Show. “I don’t think I can say anything that’s ever going to get rid of that or dispel it, which is hurtful to me,” she said. “I hate that people think that I’m that because I know who I am.”
Ellen DeGeneres: I moved to the UK because of Trump.
Yeah so… the other 300 MILLION plus stayed in America.
We’re good.
Please stay there. pic.twitter.com/mSa9Zs5Bbr
— Denise (@Likeshesays) July 21, 2025
When asked about LGBTQ visibility in Hollywood, DeGeneres suggested that fear still plays a role in the reluctance of some public figures to come out. “People are still scared,” she said, hinting that even in 2025, the entertainment industry has work to do.
🚨 Ellen DeGeneres and Kathy Griffin have entered the final stage of Trump Derangement Syndrome pic.twitter.com/5qID7PGqbd
— Alec Lace (@AlecLace) July 21, 2025
Though she’s enjoying the slower pace of country living, DeGeneres hasn’t ruled out a return to the spotlight. She mentioned the idea of hosting a British talk show but was noncommittal: “I want to have fun, I want to do something. I do like my chickens but I’m a little bit bored.”
