Photo Credit: Getty Images
Ellen DeGeneres has confirmed that her move from the U.S. to the U.K. was directly influenced by Donald Trump’s reelection as president. Speaking during an event in Cheltenham’s Everyman Theatre, the 67-year-old revealed she and her wife, Portia de Rossi, traveled to England the day before the November 2024 election and, when morning brought news of Trump’s victory, made a life-changing decision, “We’re staying here.”
Originally, the couple had purchased what they thought would be a part-time residence in the Cotswolds, planning to split their time between California and England. But once the election results came in, they decided to make their country home permanent.
DeGeneres has expressed deep concern about the social and political atmosphere in America, particularly threats to LGBTQ+ rights. Citing recent efforts by religious groups to reverse same-sex marriage protections, she even hinted at remarrying Portia in the U.K. if those rights are repealed in the U.S.
Describing life in the Cotswolds, Ellen lavished praise on her new surroundings: “Everything here is just better — the way animals are treated, people are polite… I just love it here.” She also shared simple joys such as seeing snow for the first time, raising chickens, and briefly caring for sheep. The slower pace, natural beauty and civil society contrast sharply with her experience in the U.S.
On stage, she addressed the end of The Ellen DeGeneres Show, which concluded in 2022 after workplace controversy, and spoke about how that experience shifted her trajectory. She admitted she misses aspects of the show but noted that the traditional talk-show format feels outdated in an era dominated by digital media.
Since moving, the couple made headlines again by listing their first UK home (Kitesbridge Farm) for roughly $30 million, shortly after purchasing and renovating it for around $20 million. Now settled in a nearby, more modern estate better suited for de Rossi’s horses, the pair embrace their rural lifestyle and seem committed to living abroad indefinitely.
