Jimmy Kimmel has long been a fixture of late-night television and a vocally anti-Trump presence in American pop culture. But in a recent podcast appearance, Kimmel hinted that his days as a U.S.-based political commentator may be numbered. The viral claim making the rounds: Jimmy Kimmel has obtained Italian citizenship and is contemplating leaving the country due to Donald Trump’s return to the White House.
So, is he really packing his bags for good? Let’s break down what he said, what he didn’t say, and what it actually means.
The revelation came during a June 2025 appearance on “The Sarah Silverman Podcast,” hosted by his ex-girlfriend and fellow comedian Sarah Silverman. During a discussion about Americans seeking foreign citizenships in the wake of political changes, Silverman mentioned that some people were “getting out” due to Trump’s reelection. Kimmel then casually dropped the bombshell: “I did get Italian citizenship. I do have that.”
That’s true. Italy’s state news agency ANSA confirmed that Kimmel officially became a citizen earlier this year through “jus sanguinis,” or citizenship by descent. His maternal great-grandparents emigrated from Ischia, near Naples, after the devastating 1883 earthquake. Italian law allows descendants of Italian citizens to reclaim citizenship, provided they can prove their lineage — something Kimmel evidently managed to do.
But does that mean he’s actually fleeing the country? That’s where the waters get murkier.
Kimmel didn’t explicitly say he was moving to Italy. What he did say was that things in the U.S. are “so much worse” than expected under President Trump, and he appeared emotionally shaken by the state of American politics. “As bad as you thought it was gonna be, it’s so much worse,” he lamented. That kind of language, combined with the timing of his dual citizenship announcement, has certainly fueled speculation that he’s preparing an escape route.
Still, speculation is not confirmation. There’s no record of Kimmel selling his Los Angeles property or relocating his show — yet. However, his comments do fit a pattern among Hollywood’s liberal elite. Comedians and entertainers who once mocked the idea of leaving the country over politics are now quietly — and sometimes not so quietly — doing just that.
Rosie O’Donnell, for example, recently “self-deported” to Ireland and said she won’t return to the U.S. “until it’s safe for all citizens to have equal rights.” Ellen DeGeneres has reportedly relocated to England, blaming Trump for her departure. And Stephen Colbert’s “Late Show” was canceled in July, prompting Trump to predict that Kimmel and Jimmy Fallon would be “next” to exit — either from television or the country.
Kimmel, for his part, has acknowledged that some former Trump supporters are having second thoughts and should be welcomed rather than scorned. “I think the door needs 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’s so hard and so rare to do. You are welcome.” It’s a surprisingly conciliatory tone from someone who has made a career out of mocking conservatives.
So where does that leave us?
It’s fair to say that Kimmel, like many in his ideological camp, is deeply unhappy with the current political landscape. His acquisition of Italian citizenship is real, and it provides him with a convenient Plan B should he choose to leave. But so far, he’s stopped short of announcing a definitive move. In other words, he’s hedging his bets — a classic celebrity maneuver that lets him keep one foot in the resistance while keeping the other in Hollywood.
The irony, of course, is rich. For years, liberal entertainers claimed they’d leave the country if Trump ever came to power. Trump’s first term came and went, and most of them stayed put. But now, with Trump back in office and the political winds shifting, some are finally following through.
Kimmel may not have booked a one-way ticket to Naples just yet, but he’s clearly keeping his options open. Whether his audience sticks around for the journey is another question entirely.