Jimmy Kimmel, the sharp-tongued host of "Jimmy Kimmel Live!", has quietly obtained Italian citizenship as a potential escape hatch from the United States under President Trump's leadership. His revelation on a recent podcast has sparked chatter about celebrities hedging their bets against the current administration.
According to The Hill, Kimmel shared this news on Sarah Silverman’s podcast on Aug. 7, admitting he pursued dual nationality through his mother’s family ties. He didn’t shy away from expressing his dismay, telling Silverman, “It’s just unbelievable. Like I feel like it’s probably even worse than he would like it to be.”
Kimmel’s quip about the state of affairs might resonate with some, but let’s unpack that gloom. If things are truly as dire as he suggests, one wonders why a passport is the answer rather than engaging with the democratic process right here at home.
Kimmel isn’t alone in his dramatic pivot to international citizenship. He joins a growing roster of comedians who seem to think packing their bags is the best response to Trump’s presidency.
Ellen DeGeneres, for instance, disclosed in July that she and her wife, Portia de Rossi, relocated to the United Kingdom just before the election. She told a crowd at Everyman Theatre in Cheltenham, England, “We got here the day before the election and woke up to lots of texts from our friends with crying emojis, and I was like, ‘He got in.’”
DeGeneres seems to have timed her move with uncanny precision, but fleeing across the Atlantic feels more like a publicity stunt than a principled stand. If you’re going to criticize leadership, shouldn’t the fight be on American soil where your voice carries weight?
Rosie O’Donnell, another outspoken critic of Trump, shared that she moved to Ireland with her young daughter on Jan. 15. In a TikTok video from March, she gushed, “I’m in the process of getting my Irish citizenship, as I have Irish grandparents.”
O’Donnell praised the warmth of the Irish people, calling them “loving and so kind,” and expressed gratitude for their welcome. Yet, her move, much like Kimmel’s, raises questions about abandoning the very platform that gave her influence to shape public opinion.
Trump, never one to let criticism slide, fired back at O’Donnell on Truth Social on July 12, labeling her a “threat to humanity” and threatening to revoke her U.S. citizenship. While his words are predictably blunt, they highlight the tension between public figures and a president who doesn’t mince words in return.
Kimmel’s disdain for Trump is hardly new; he’s been a consistent thorn in the president’s side for years, even during the first term. His monologues often target Trump’s policies with biting humor that plays well to a certain audience.
Trump, in turn, has dismissed Kimmel as “stupid” and predicted he’d be the next late-night host to lose his show, following the cancellation of “The Late Show With Stephen Colbert.” The president’s jab shows he’s keeping score, even if his focus might be better spent elsewhere.
This feud feels like a sideshow, but it underscores a deeper rift. When entertainers like Kimmel use their platforms to slam leadership, they invite pushback, yet opting for citizenship elsewhere seems less like courage and more like retreat.
The trend of celebrities like Kimmel, DeGeneres, and O’Donnell seeking foreign citizenship sends a troubling signal about civic engagement. If influential voices choose exit over debate, what’s left of the messy but vital clash of ideas that shapes a nation?
These moves might be legal and personal, but they risk alienating everyday Americans who don’t have the luxury of a backup passport. The irony is thick when those with the loudest megaphones decide to speak from another country rather than fight for change at home.
Perhaps it’s time for a reality check; leadership isn’t perfect, and Trump’s style grates on many, but running away solves nothing. Kimmel and his peers might find more impact by staying put, challenging policies head-on, and trusting in the resilience of the system they so often critique.
