Jimmy Kimmel has revealed that he has officially obtained Italian citizenship, a decision he says was influenced in part by Donald Trump’s return to the White House. The late-night talk show host shared the news during an appearance on The Sarah Silverman Podcast, explaining that many people in his circle are considering similar moves in the wake of Trump’s re-election in 2024.
“A lot of people I know are thinking about where they might get citizenship,” Silverman remarked during their conversation. Kimmel then confirmed, “I did get Italian citizenship. What’s going on is as bad as you thought it was gonna be. It’s so much worse; it’s just unbelievable. I feel like it’s probably even worse than he would like it to be.”
Italian news agency Ansa reported that Kimmel was granted citizenship earlier this year after proving his family’s ancestral ties to Italy. His connection to the country comes through both his maternal and paternal lineage. Speaking at an Italian Republic Day celebration in Los Angeles back in June, Kimmel shared that his grandfather’s parents emigrated from the island of Ischia, off the coast of Naples, following a devastating 1883 earthquake that killed much of their family.
He also credited his grandmother Edith, whose family hailed from Candida in the province of Avellino, for keeping those roots alive. “I have just obtained citizenship thanks to my beloved grandmother Edith,” Kimmel said, joking that she “used to repeat to me, ‘You have the brain of a hamster!’”
Kimmel’s move is part of a broader trend among celebrities who have either left the U.S. or taken steps to secure a backup home abroad since Trump’s re-election. Rosie O’Donnell relocated to Ireland in January, while Ellen DeGeneres and her wife, actor Portia de Rossi, have moved to the UK. DeGeneres cited the country’s cleanliness, kindness, and animal welfare standards as reasons for the move. She also voiced concerns about the future of LGBTQ+ rights in America, suggesting that she and De Rossi might even remarry in the UK should same-sex marriage be overturned in the U.S.
As one of America’s most outspoken late-night hosts, Kimmel has frequently used Jimmy Kimmel Live! to criticise Trump’s policies and rhetoric. He’s part of a group of prominent hosts, including John Oliver, Jon Stewart, and Stephen Colbert, who have made Trump a frequent target.
In May, The Late Show with Stephen Colbert was abruptly cancelled by CBS, shortly after Colbert criticised the network’s decision to settle a $16 million lawsuit with Trump, according to BBC News. CBS denied political motivations, but Trump publicly celebrated the move, even hinting that Kimmel might be “next” to lose his platform.
On Silverman’s podcast, Kimmel also spoke about the importance of supporting people who regret backing Trump. “The door has to stay open,” he said. “If you want to change your mind, that’s so hard to do. If you want to admit you were wrong, that is so hard and so rare to do. You are welcome.”
For Kimmel, obtaining Italian citizenship appears to be a symbolic reminder that, for some, America’s current political climate feels uncertain enough to seek a second home.
