Ellen DeGeneres Cites Political Climate in Move to UK, Raising Questions about US brain Drain
London – Ellen DeGeneres has reportedly relocated to the United Kingdom, citing a desire for a nation where “all citizens have equal rights,” a move fueled by concerns over the political climate in the United States under former President Donald Trump. The comedian’s departure adds to a growing trend of individuals, including academics and experts in authoritarianism, leaving the US amid anxieties about escalating political division and threats to personal safety.
DeGeneres, who has a long-standing public feud with Trump, felt compelled to leave after he publicly considered stripping her of her US citizenship earlier this year. While legally dubious, the threat, coupled with a perceived rise in political violence, prompted her decision. “when all citizens to have equal rights there in America, that’s when we will consider coming back,” she stated in a tiktok video. Her move, while drawing some criticism due to her wealth insulating her from the direct effects of Trump-era policies, highlights a broader unease felt by others.
The US appears to be experiencing a “brain drain” as a result of the political environment. A recent poll by the journal Nature found that 75% of researchers in the US are considering leaving the country. International students are also showing decreased interest in studying in the US, according to The Economist. Furthermore, experts specializing in authoritarianism have voiced alarm, with three Yale professors who study fascism relocating to Canada earlier this year, warning of parallels to the pre-World War II era. As one professor stated in a New York Times op-ed, “We Study Fascism, and We’re Leaving the US.”
Whether the notoriously damp British weather will ultimately prove a deterrent for DeGeneres remains to be seen.
Arwa Mahdawi is a Guardian columnist.
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