Many celebrities did leave the U.S. – but did so for a lot of reasons have nothing to do with Trump’s election. Many had bought properties or even moved well before the election of Trump in late 2024.
The media, though, ran numerous stories based on the “correlation equals causation” fallacy. Almost all those stories were untrue.
Are Celebrities Leaving the US Because Trump Was Elected?
From the media reports, you might think celebrities have fled the country after the election. But those reports turned out to be fake news.
Eva Longoria, Moved to Spain years ago
For example, Eva Longoria Moved Her Family Out of “Dystopian” United States because of Trump.
“I’m privileged. I get to escape and go somewhere. Most Americans aren’t so lucky,” the actress said of her choice to leave.
This was widely reported but is not true.
She bought a home in Spain in 2023 AND MOVED IN 2023 and this was publicly reported in 2023 –> Eva Longoria moves to Spain with her husband and son: the reasons for her move
One of these fake news articles is from the BBC: Eva Longoria says her family no longer lives in ‘dystopian’ US
A few days after the fake news stories, Longoria issued a statement clarifying she has not moved abroad because of Trump: Eva Longoria Did Not Move Out of the U.S. Because of Election, Donald Trump
The story, like so many of the “I moved abroad” stories says the U.S. is a terrible place to live. Eva Longoria reveals reason why she’s moved her family out of the United States
She reportedly has Spanish citizenship, and her husband is the President of Televisa, the largest media company in Latin American and he is a citizen of Mexico. As Ibero-Americans they have immigration privilege into Spain. They have homes in both Spain and Mexico.
Robert de Niro, Prior dual citizenship
Is reportedly moving to France after the election of Donald Trump. He is a dual citizen of the U.S. and Italy (hence, the EU). In 1997, he was awarded the French Légion d’Honneur (Legion of Honour), which when given to foreign nationals, provides an accelerated path to French citizenship as well. He already has an estate in the EU, pre-dating Donald Trump.
Richard Gere, Residency via Marriage
Announces he is moving to Europe because Trump – except he announced in April 2024 they were moving to Spain and said they bought their home in Spain earlier in 2024, having nothing to do with Trump. His wife is a citizen of Spain so he has an immigration privilege you do not have.
Ellen DeGeneres, Already owned home in England
Ellen DeGeneres & Portia de Rossi Move to England After Trump Election Win
Update: They are moving back to the United States – Ellen DeGeneres, Portia de Rossi Returning To California
She already owned a home in England, and her spouse, Portia de Rossi, has Australian citizenship. The visa granting them residency in the UK is not specified; however, Portia was born in Australia in 1973, and Commonwealth citizens from Australia, born before 1983, and if one of her parents had UK citizenship (unknown although her mother is said to have English ancestry), then Portia is eligible for “right of abode” residency in the UK. Marriage may then provide visa access to DeGeneres.
Update: As of spring 2025, they might be moving back to the U.S., at least temporarily: Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi LA mansion: Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi may be heading back to the U.S. after moving abroad following Donald Trump’s victory; here’s why – The Economic Times
Bruce Springsteen, Right of descent Ancestry
His wife has an Irish mother and a father with recent Italian ancestry. That gives his wife a right of descent ancestry citizenship in both Ireland and Italy (both are part of the EU). It is unknown if she has pursued that option, but it would get them residency visas.
Tom Cruise, Residency via Marriage
He did not move to the UK because of Trump (nor claim to do that); he moved five years ago. His wife is a Russian citizen with residency in the UK, which besides his being a famous and highly successful actor, eased his residency visa for the UK.
Meagan Good and Jonathan Majors, Right of Descent Ancestry
US film stars Meagan Good and Jonathan Majors to become Guinea citizens after DNA tests
“Husband and wife movie stars Meagan Good and Jonathan Majors have travelled to Guinea, where the US couple are due to be granted citizenship after tracing their ancestry to the West African nation through DNA testing.”
Brad Pitt, possibly via future marriage
He may move to Europe. His girlfriend is a European citizen and graduate of the University of Geneva. More here.
George Clooney, Residency via Marriage, Dual citizenship
Already lives in Europe and says Europe is much better than the United States (page down). He owns homes in California, New York, Italy, England, France and Mexico. His wife is a citizen of the UK and Lebanon, graduate of Oxford and NYU, and is licensed to practice law in the UK and the U.S., and at The Hague in The Netherlands. He made his wealth from being an American citizen, living and working in the U.S. and now says the U.S. is an awful country. He’s not subject to as much celebrity worship in France and can live a more normal life, which is good for his kids. See George Clooney Says Raising His Kids in France Is ‘Much Better’ Than in the U.S.
In 2026, France granted him, his wife and kids French citizenship.
Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis, Right of Descent Ancestry
May move to Europe but not because of the election: Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis have ‘had it with Hollywood’, considering move to Europe to evade Diddy backlash: Report | Hollywood – Hindustan Times. Mila Kunis is Ukranian. Kutcher has Irish ancestry that may include a right of descent citizenship in Ireland.
Rosie O’Donnell, Right of Descent Ancestry
She has a right of descent citizenship privilege in Ireland.
“She said that she’s “in the process” of getting Irish citizenship as her grandparents hail from the country, before expanding on the reasoning behind her move.”
Sophie Turner, Already a UK citizen
Celebrities Who Left the US for Political Reasons: Rosie O’Donnell, More – Business Insider
She is already a UK citizen. Duh.
Christina Milian, Residency via marriage
“”My husband is French, and we’ve been together for over seven or eight years,” Christina, who is married to singer Matt Pokora, said on a November 2024 episode of The Jennifer Hudson Show. “And for the last three or four years we were commuting back and forth every six months.”
Stevie Wonder, Dual Citizenship
Granted Ghana citizenship in 2024. Ghana grants citizenship to black Americans under a program they started in 2019. Wonder composed one of his albums on a trip to Ghana, many years ago, and moved to Ghana in 2021. Stevie Wonder: becoming Ghanaian on my birthday is amazing
Spike Lee and Tonya Lewis Lee, Dual citizenship
Spike Lee and wife Tonya named as Benin ambassadors for African-Americans in the US. This occurred in 2024, before Trump was elected.
Singer Ciara, Dual Citizenship
US Grammy winner Ciara becomes citizen of Benin under new slavery-descendants law
Benin grants citizenship to Americans who can trace their ancestry to a former slave. Ciara was granted Benin citizenship in 2025.
Barbara Streisand
Said she was going to move out of the U.S., but she still lives in Northern California.
Cher
Said she was moving – but she did not move.
Lena Dunham, Work visa
Moved to London – but said she did so for a specific job opportunity.
Robin Wright, Work visa
Says the US is a “s*** show” and moved to the UK. But not exactly – she’s filming a TV series for Amazon Prime Video in the UK. Another celebrity “leaves” the U.S. and is in the UK temporarily.
Lindsay Lohan, Work and marriage visas
Lives in Dubai, moved there seven years ago. Her husband is an executive at Credit Suisse, based in Dubai (believe he is American).
More
Many more say they will move – although, as above, most either already own homes in other countries, or have citizenship or residency in other countries besides the United States: Which celebrities have decided to leave the United States after Donald Trump’s victory? | Marca
Americans Not Good Enough?
Interesting that many celebrities have foreign romantic partners – sending a message that Americans are not good enough for them?
Media Promotes Moving Abroad After the Election
The media is “all in” on encouraging everyone to leave the United States even if they need to create 100% fake stories, like the above.
- How To Move Out of The U.S.: Choosing The Right Country | Get Golden Visa
- How To Move Out Of The U.S.
- REVEALED: Celebrities Who Want To Flee U.S. in the Wake of Trump Victory (Sharon Stone, Cher, and nine others, many of whom I have not heard of)
- What Did Eva Longoria Say About the ‘Dystopian’ U.S.? (Says she already left)
- Garth Brooks & Trisha Yearwood Are Considering Moving Out of the US (Didn’t happen – and it was because Brooks was accused of sexual abuse: Garth Brooks considers fleeing US after being accused of sex abuse | Daily Mail Online and Garth Brooks & Trisha Yearwood Facing $400 Million Divorce Amid Explosive Sexual Assault Allegations | The WealthAdvisor)
- Washington Post offers advice on ‘what it takes to immigrate’ outside the US after Trump’s victory | Fox News
- I Followed Through With My Plan to Leave the US If Trump Won in 2016 – Business Insider
- Want To Leave The U.S.? The Best Countries For Americans To Move To
- 5 Places To Move If You Don’t Like The Election Results
- Texas woman leaving the U.S. after Trump wins election | wfaa.com (Her husband is Dutch and she had already lived in Europe for 18 years – yet another bull shit news story about someone “moving abroad” because of the election. The US news media and the people who work for it are trash.)
An estimated 1.3% (WSJ) of US citizens live abroad (other estimates are 1.6% and as high as 2%). An estimated 1% +/- of US retirees move abroad, but half of those already had prior dual citizenship or residency elsewhere. For example, an American couple working in Canada for 20 years, with permanent residency status, own their home in Ontario and choose to stay their home and neighborhood for retirement. With percentages in the 1% range, almost no Americans are living abroad.