In a candid and politically charged admission, US late-night host Jimmy Kimmel has revealed that he has officially obtained Italian citizenship, joining a growing list of celebrities and public figures who have either relocated from the United States or are preparing to do so amid concerns over Donald Trump’s presidency and political direction.
Kimmel, 57, made the revelation during a recent conversation with fellow comedian and actress Sarah Silverman, sharing that he had actively pursued citizenship in his ancestral homeland as a safeguard in the event he chooses to leave America. His comments arrive at a time when several high-profile entertainers have publicly announced similar moves abroad, citing fears about the state of US politics, gun violence, and the rollback of civil rights.
The Jimmy Kimmel Live! host explained that his new citizenship was granted thanks to his Italian heritage. “I did get Italian citizenship,” Kimmel told Silverman on her podcast. “I do have that. And what’s going on is — as bad as you thought it was going to be — it’s so much worse. It’s just unbelievable. I feel like it’s even worse than [Trump] would like it to be.”
His comments come against the backdrop of Donald Trump’s plans to overhaul US immigration policies if his second term continues on its current course. The former president has promised the “largest deportation operation in American history” and a clampdown on birthright citizenship — a move that has already sparked legal debates and outrage from immigrant rights advocates.