❓WHAT HAPPENED: Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi, who fled to England citing Donald J. Trump’s presidency, are reportedly planning to return to California.
👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Ellen DeGeneres, Portia de Rossi, and their friends in California.
📍WHEN & WHERE: The couple moved to England a year ago but now plan to return to California to escape the British weather.
💬KEY QUOTE: “Ellen was adamant that she and Portia were going to stay in the UK while Trump was in the White House, but evidently she’s changed her mind somewhat.” – source close to Ellen and de Rossi.
🎯IMPACT: The couple’s decision to return to California puts them alongside a number of Democrat-aligned celebrities who have threatened to leave the United States because of President Trump’s election, with most having failed to depart the country permanently.
Former talk-show host Ellen DeGeneres and her wife, Portia de Rossi, who fled to England roughly a year ago due to the reelection of President Donald J. Trump, are now expected to return to California to avoid the British winter. The couple settled in England’s Cotswolds following the 2024 elections, with DeGeneres explaining at the time that “life is just better” in the United Kingdom.
She had also previously remarked, “We got here the day before the election… and woke up to lots of texts from our friends with crying emojis,” adding, “We’re staying here.”
Although they allegedly adapted to rural life, sources close to the pair say the couple has begun to miss their friends and California’s warmer climate, particularly as they prepare for another cold British winter. One insider noted, “Ellen was adamant that she and Portia were going to stay in the UK while Trump was in the White House, but evidently she’s changed her mind somewhat.”
Earlier this year, the couple sold their 43-acre property in Swinbrook, Oxfordshire, choosing instead to move to a hilltop mansion equipped with facilities for Portia’s horses. DeGeneres described the need for such a home, explaining, “When we decided to live here full-time, we knew that Portia couldn’t live without her horses. We needed a home that had a horse facility and pastures for them.”
Though a source close to the couple claimed that their travel plans do not amount to a permanent return to the United States, it was confirmed that they intend to spend the holidays in California, leaving the duration of their stay open-ended.
Join Pulse+ to comment below, and receive exclusive e-mail analyses.
