Fact Check: Did Ellen DeGeneres regret moving to the UK after Trump's 2024 election win?
WASHINGTON, DC: Viral posts claim that Ellen DeGeneres regrets moving to England after President Donald Trump won the 2024 US presidential election. Some posts also claim that DeGeneres and her wife, Portia de Rossi, gave up their US citizenship and can no longer return to the country for 10 years. The claims have sparked speculation about the couple's decision to leave the US. Let's fact-check the claim.
Claim: Ellen DeGeneres regretted moving to England's Cotswolds
Ellen DeGeneres says she's "completely miserable" living in the UK and that she and Portia DiRossi, her wife, would like to come home. "I didn't really think this through," said Ellen, "Leaving was one thing, but we never should have forfeited our citizenship." The couple renounced the United States before they left and destroyed their passports as soon as they got new ones from the UK, where DiRossi and DeGeneres, by default, are already citizens. "Now we can't even visit." What's your response to this......??👀 MAKE THIS GO VIRAL ON X. LET’S GO 👏
— Today Updates 🇺🇸 (@TodayUpdates0) October 20, 2026
The rumor originated from an X account named Today Updates, which claimed that Ellen DeGeneres regretted moving to England's Cotswolds after Donald Trump's 2024 presidential election victory.
The post alleged that DeGeneres and her wife, Portia de Rossi, are unhappy with their decision to leave the United States and wanted to return.
To support its claim, the account attributed a statement expressing regret to DeGeneres. The alleged quote read, “I didn't really think this through,” followed by, “Leaving was one thing, but we never should have forfeited our citizenship.”
The post further claimed that the couple had renounced their US citizenship before leaving the country and destroyed their passports after receiving new ones from the UK.
First, she left America, which is paradise, and moved to the UK, where she realized what America truly means. If she had to live in Afghanistan, she would go crazy within a month! Many people take their freedom for granted because they have never experienced what it means to have their basic rights taken away, lose their freedom, or live under constant restrictions, challenges, and threats. I hope that one day I will experience freedom and finally be free.
— Afghan Girl (@Afghana609) October 21, 2026
It also attributed another statement to DeGeneres, saying, “Now we can't even visit.” The account ended by asking its followers for their reactions to the alleged remarks.
Another post shared a similar narrative, criticizing DeGeneres for leaving the United States and moving to the UK. The post argued that living abroad made her realize the value of America, describing the country as “paradise.”
It also compared the couple's situation with life in Afghanistan, claiming that people often take freedom for granted until they experience restrictions, threats, and the loss of basic rights. The post concluded by expressing hope that people living under such conditions would one day experience freedom.
Fact Check: False, DeGeneres did not renounce US citizenship
The claim is false. There is no evidence that DeGeneres or de Rossi renounced their US citizenship. Fact-checking reports found no public record of either woman giving up US citizenship. Living abroad does not automatically cause someone to lose US citizenship.
The claims that the couple destroyed their passports or forfeited their citizenship also lack credible evidence. Similar claims have circulated through satirical and fake-news accounts that publish fabricated stories.
In October 2026, DeGeneres discussed her career during an appearance on 'The Graham Norton Show.' She said she missed working on television and was considering doing projects in the UK. However, she did not say that she regretted moving to England or wanted to return to the US because of her citizenship status.
DeGeneres has also discussed the practical adjustments of living in the English countryside, including looking after sheep and maintaining a lawn, in a lighthearted manner. These comments do not support claims that she is unhappy with her decision.
The alleged statements circulating online, including “completely miserable,” “I didn't really think this through,” “we never should have forfeited our citizenship,” and “Now we can't even visit,” appear in unverified social media posts and meme-style images. No credible interview or reputable news report confirms that either woman made these remarks.
DeGeneres was born in the United States and is a US citizen by birth, while de Rossi was born in Australia and has different citizenship circumstances. However, no credible evidence supports claims that either woman renounced her US citizenship or faces a ban on returning to the country.
