Jimmy Kimmel says he’s now an Italian citizen — and it’s all because of President Trump.
The late-night host revealed on Sarah Silverman’s podcast that he went through the process of securing an Italian passport as a backup plan in case he decided to leave the country under Trump’s leadership. Silverman mentioned that many people she knows are exploring citizenship elsewhere, to which Kimmel responded, “I did get Italian citizenship.”
Kimmel explained he qualified through his mother’s side of the family. He didn’t hold back his feelings about Trump, telling Silverman, “It’s so much worse. It’s just unbelievable. Like I feel like it’s probably even worse than he would like it to be.”
The comedian has long been a fierce critic of the president, regularly mocking him on “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” Trump has returned the jabs, calling Kimmel “stupid” and predicting his show would be canceled — similar to what happened to “The Late Show With Stephen Colbert” on CBS.
Kimmel now joins a growing list of entertainers who have left or are seeking to leave the United States since Trump’s reelection. Ellen DeGeneres and her wife, Portia de Rossi, relocated to the United Kingdom the day before the election, waking up to crying emoji-filled texts confirming Trump’s victory and deciding to stay overseas. Rosie O’Donnell moved to Ireland with her daughter just days before Trump took office, later saying she was applying for Irish citizenship through her grandparents. Trump even went so far as to post on Truth Social that O’Donnell should have her U.S. citizenship revoked, labeling her a “threat to humanity.”
Kimmel’s revelation is the latest in a trend of high-profile public figures openly preparing for life outside the U.S., a reflection of the deep political and cultural divide. His decision also adds another chapter to the ongoing feud between Trump and some of the most outspoken voices in entertainment — a feud that shows no signs of slowing down.