Celebs Who Left The Country After Trump's Win

Prior to Donald Trump's controversial second presidential win in October 2024, several people claimed they wouldn't remain in the U.S. if he triumphed over Kamala Harris. In fact, Visa Guide claimed Google searches from American's looking to move abroad rose 1,514% following his victory. And that figure likely included several celebrities. Exactly a year before the election, Cher, who hasn't been shy about her feelings for Trump, told The Guardian, "I almost got an ulcer the last time. If he gets in, who knows? This time I will leave [the country]." But she's since gone back on her word. "She did intend to leave the United States if Donald Trump got elected, but things are different now than they were one year ago," a source told Daily Mail in November 2024. "She gave that interview before she was so committed."

Former "The Cheetah Girls" actor Raven-Symone also very publicly vowed to cross the border prior to Trump's win over Hillary Clinton in 2016. "My confession for this election is if any Republican gets nominated I'm gonna move to Canada with my entire family. I already have my ticket. I literally bought my ticket, I swear," she said on "The View" (via The Wrap). While she didn't appear to follow through on that threat, not every famous face who threatened to say sayonara to the States has been all talk and no action.

Native Brit Minnie Driver told The Times in July 2024 she'd spent a lot more time in her home country after living in the U.S. for 27 years and suggested she'd stay put if Donald Trump got elected for a second time. Driver was asked if she would ever live in the States again and responded, "If I lived in a red state, no, I couldn't." She also admitted she wouldn't feel comfortable putting down roots in California again, noting, "Living in California, you are somewhat insulated. But do you want to go and live in a bubble? Do you run away from the fire or do you go back and help?"

Driver also made it clear she's no MAGA member and said Trump should be in jail for his criminal cases — though he'll likely escape legal consequences following his election win— as she slammed his many supporters. "The idea that because the founding fathers — if there had been some mothers involved perhaps it would be different — left no room in the constitution for the idea that the American people could be so stupid as to vote for a felon, there is nothing reflected in the judiciary about what would happen if he wins," she said.

Donald Trump's election had such a major impact on Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi that they upped sticks and swapped the glamor of Hollywood for the tranquility of the English countryside. TMZ confirmed in November 2024 that the election had left the couple "very disillusioned" and pushed them to move permanently across the pond into a Cotswolds' home they bought before Trump's win. TheWrap reported they were so upset about U.S. politics they would likely never return to DeGeneres' native country (de Rossi was born in Australia).

The former "The Ellen DeGeneres Show" host gave fans a peek at their new surroundings on Instagram in December 2024 to celebrate her 20th anniversary with de Rossi. The two posed in front of acres of English fields, with DeGeneres captioning the shot, "So happy we get to travel and explore the world together in the next 20 years, and looking forward to our first snowy Christmas."

America Ferrera also swapped dollars for pounds because of Donald Trump. Hello! reported in November 2024 that the former "Ugly Betty" actor had moved to London with her family after she was spotted scouting out schools for her children (Ferrera and her husband Ryan Piers Williams, who was also in "Barbie," have two kids). "America is sick that Donald Trump is president again. She is devastated that Kamala [Harris] lost. She thought the country she lived in was better than that," a source told the Daily Mail. 

"She is going to continue to have a presence in the U.S. for work purposes and to fight for Latinas and women, but she will be overseas for family and to benefit her kids' education," they added. The star was already familiar with the British capital after spending a lot of time there for work. In 2011, she appeared on the West End in "Chicago" and was also spotted at the IOM U.K. London office in September 2024, where she spoke on behalf of migrants. 

Ferrera's serious disdain for Trump has been well-documented. In 2015, she wrote an open letter to the then presidential hopeful and slammed him for speaking negatively about Mexican migrants. "You, Mr. Trump, are living in an outdated fantasy of a bigoted America," she wrote (via The Hollywood Reporter). "...Thank you for reminding us... to run to the polls and proclaim that there is no place for your brand of racial politicking in our government."

Paul Finch, a director at real estate company Beauchamp Estates, told The Standard in November 2024 many Americans had bought luxury properties in London due to the U.S. political landscape, including fashion designer Tom Ford. "A significant number of these are American buyers of which Tom Ford is the most famous. I think part of it is these American buyers wanting a second home away from the U.S. mainland if Trump does come to power," he said — and the fashion mogul did it in serious style. If Ford is looking to make his move permanent, he's certainly set up for it. His $102 million Chelsea home is reported to have everything from a pool to a personal movie theatre.

The move was made even more surprising due to Ford telling WWD in 2017 he actually felt inspired to move back to the U.S. following Trump's foray into politics. "We have a tremendous number of people in this country who feel disenfranchised and clearly we are not relating to or speaking to them. I am at my core American, and it made me want to come back," he said, noting he'd purchased a new home in Los Angeles. Ford told CNBC International News the year prior that he was a loyal Democrat and would be voting for Hillary Clinton. "It's pretty surprising and shocking that [Trump] is actually the Republican candidate. I don't actually know how that happened," he said.

Lena Dunham has been very vocal about her contempt for Donald Trump, so much so she vowed to move to Canada if he became president the first time. "I know a lovely place in Vancouver, and I can get my work done from there," she said at the Matrix Awards in 2016 (via The Hollywood Reporter). "I know a lot of people have been threatening to do this, but I really will." Dunham didn't make the move across the border, but did eventually relocate to the U.K. The actor initially headed to London for work, but told The New Yorker in July 2024 she stayed there with her partner, Luis Felber, after growing disillusioned with the U.S. 

The former "Girls" star didn't mention the president by name, but Dunham notably remarked of her new home, "You don't feel that you are being in any way hemmed in by other people's perceptions." Seven years earlier, she spoke about the profound effect Trump's election over Hillary Clinton had on her. "Donald Trump became president and I stopped being able to eat food," she said on "The Howard Stern Show" (via Entertainment Weekly). "Everyone's been asking like, 'What have you been doing?' And I'm like, 'Try soul-crushing pain and devastation and hopelessness and you, too, will lose weight.'"

In a March 2025 TikTok, former "The View" co-host Rosie O'Donnell casually revealed that she'd been living in Ireland for almost two months with her youngest child. She confirmed the move was political, admitting to followers, "It's been heartbreaking to see what's happening politically and hard for me personally as well. The personal is political, as we all know." O'Donnell also suggested that her other children hadn't followed her across the pond, acknowledging how much she missed them. But adjusting to her new surroundings didn't sound too difficult. The "Harriet the Spy" star then offered an update on life in Europe: "It's been pretty wonderful, I have to say. The people are so loving and so kind, so welcoming. And I'm very grateful." 

@rosie

hello all – here's whats been going on folks – sending love ❤️- follow me on substack – link in my bio #bewell #speakkindlytoyourself #dourbest

♬ original sound – Rosie ODonnell

While the likes of Ellen DeGeneres and Portia De Rossi may never live in the States again, the New York native would return someday — if things change. As O'Donnell reasoned, "When it is safe for all citizens to have equal rights there in America, that's when we will consider coming back." Her longstanding beef with Donald Trump has been well-documented, with the two trading various jabs over the years. On "Late Night with Seth Meyers" in 2017, the TV personality pointed out that their war of words had lasted over 10 years, beginning when she made comments about him on "The View." 

"He went bats**t crazy," she recalled. O'Donnell's final dramatic act in her Trump feud got his attention too. While speaking to Micheál Martin, Ireland's Taoiseach (aka Prime Minister), shortly after O'Donnell announced her move, Trump inquired as to whether he knew the actor was living in Ireland. Martin seemingly hinted that he didn't know who she was, to which Trump quipped, "You're better off not knowing," (via the Daily Mail).

Prior to Sophie Turner's divorce from Joe Jonas, the British actor spent a lot of time in the U.S. with him and their two children. But the rising political tensions stemming from Donald Trump's first term and other contentious factors eventually forced her to move back to her native U.K. once the former couple's split was finalized. "The gun violence, Roe v. Wade being overturned... Everything just kind of piled on," Turner told Harper's Bazaar in 2024, confirming she made London her main base. "After the Uvalde shooting, I knew it was time to get the f**k out of there," the actor added.

Of course, the "Game of Thrones" star's lack of MAGA support has been no secret. In 2020, after Trump hit the headlines for speculating if consuming disinfectants could help prevent COVID-19 (which Dr. Fauci wasn't happy about), Turner slammed him on her Instagram Stories. "Good morning everyone. Don't drink bleach like Donald Trump says. He's a f**king moron," she hit back. Two years earlier, the Brit also made her disdain for him clear after Trump shared a "GOT-"inspired post on X, formerly known as Twitter. In a since deleted tweet, Turner responded simply "Ew," (via Esquire).