Ellen DeGeneres, once a beloved talk show icon, has reportedly left the United States for the English countryside, with sources citing Donald Trump’s presidential victory as the final straw. According to reports from TheWrap, DeGeneres and her wife, Portia de Rossi, have relocated to the Cotswolds, a picturesque rural area in south-central England, and plan to make the move permanent.
The source close to the couple stated that Trump’s election was the primary motivation behind the drastic relocation. DeGeneres and de Rossi have allegedly put their sprawling Montecito estate up for sale, marking a significant break from their life in the United States.
While the couple has not made any public statements, their departure speaks volumes. The election of Trump over Kamala Harris—who DeGeneres and many Hollywood elites openly supported—was the tipping point in their decision to leave.
Yes, that was me at the Cowboys game with George W. Bush over the weekend. Here’s the whole story. pic.twitter.com/AYiwY5gTIS
— The Ellen Show (@EllenDeGeneres) October 8, 2019
Trump’s victory isn’t the only context for this move. DeGeneres has faced her share of controversy in recent years. The fallout from reports of a toxic workplace environment on The Ellen DeGeneres Show in 2022 effectively ended her career as a daytime TV powerhouse.
While DeGeneres has long been open about her struggles in the entertainment industry, particularly after her 1997 coming-out moment, her reputation took a significant hit with accusations of mistreating staff. In her own words, she felt “kicked out of show business,” and her departure to England might signal a desire for a fresh start far from Hollywood.
Ironically, DeGeneres has been known for defying partisan boundaries in her public and personal life. She famously defended her friendship with former Republican President George W. Bush, despite backlash from progressive circles.
At the time, she called for unity and mutual respect, stating, “Just because I don’t agree with someone on everything doesn’t mean that I’m not going to be friends with them.” She also kept a Republican writer, Adam Yenser, on her staff for years, showcasing a willingness to work across ideological divides.
DeGeneres’s departure underscores the deepening fractures in American cultural and political life. For many in Hollywood and beyond, Trump’s presidency represents a fundamental shift that makes staying in the country untenable. While DeGeneres’s actions might strike some as extreme, they reflect a growing sense of alienation felt by public figures whose values clash sharply with the political direction of the nation.