With Donald Trump’s re-election stirring a wave of celebrity reactions, Jimmy Kimmel has taken an extraordinary step, reconnecting with his ancestral roots to claim Italian citizenship this year.

Jimmy Kimmel has revealed that he obtained Italian citizenship earlier this year, citing the re-election of former President Donald Trump as a key motivator behind his decision.

Speaking candidly on The Sarah Silverman Podcast, the longtime late-night host described the current political climate in the United States as “so much worse than I expected” and called the developments “unbelievable.”

Kimmel explained that his eligibility for Italian citizenship stems from his ancestral lineage. His grandmother, Edith, hailed from Candida, a small town in the province of Avellino, Italy, and her family had emigrated to the United States decades ago.

Kimmel shared personal stories from his Italian heritage, recalling a family trip to celebrate Italian Republic Day in Los Angeles this past June.

At the event, he recounted that his grandfather’s parents originally moved to New York from the island of Ischia after an earthquake in 1883 devastated their family.

“I have just obtained citizenship, thanks to my beloved grandmother Edith,” Kimmel told the audience. “She used to repeat to me, ‘You have the brain of a hamster!’” he added, offering a glimpse of his family’s humor and connection to their roots.

This move places Kimmel among a growing list of celebrities seeking citizenship elsewhere in the wake of Trump’s 2024 re-election.

Comedian Rosie O’Donnell reportedly relocated to Ireland in January, while Ellen DeGeneres and her wife, actor Portia de Rossi, confirmed that they moved to the United Kingdom, citing concerns about the state of LGBTQ+ rights in the U.S.

“It’s clean,” DeGeneres said of life in the UK. “Everything here is just better – the way animals are treated, people are polite.

I just love it here.” She hinted that she and de Rossi may even renew their marriage in the UK due to uncertainties surrounding the preservation of same-sex marriage protections in the United States.

Late-night hosts like Kimmel, John Oliver, Jon Stewart, and Stephen Colbert have long used their platforms to critique the Trump administration, frequently blending sharp political commentary with comedy.

Kimmel, who has hosted *Jimmy Kimmel Live!* for nearly two decades, has built a reputation for both humorous and heartfelt commentary on social and political issues, often drawing direct criticism from Trump and his supporters.

In May of this year, *The Late Show with Stephen Colbert* was controversially canceled by CBS, following Colbert’s on-air criticism of the network’s \$16 million settlement of a lawsuit involving Trump.

While CBS denied political motivation, the former president expressed clear delight on social media.

“I absolutely love that Colbert got fired. His talent was even less than his ratings. I hear Jimmy Kimmel is next. Has even less talent than Colbert!”

Trump tweeted, later following up with: “The word is, and it’s a strong word at that, Jimmy Kimmel is NEXT to go in the untalented Late Night Sweepstakes and, shortly thereafter, \[Jimmy] Fallon will be gone.”

On Silverman’s podcast, Kimmel emphasized empathy for those who may have supported Trump in the past but have since changed their stance.

“Now you see these clips of Joe Rogan saying, ‘Why is he doing this? Why are you deporting people?’ And people go, ‘Fuck you! You supported him.’ I don’t buy into that,” Kimmel said.

“The door has to stay open. 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.”

Kimmel’s candid remarks underscore a broader cultural and political shift within Hollywood, where public figures increasingly weigh relocation as a potential safeguard against political developments they find alarming.

The decision to acquire citizenship abroad is not merely symbolic; it reflects a tangible response to ongoing political uncertainty.

For Kimmel, the connection to Italy offers both a personal and practical alternative, intertwining familial heritage with contemporary concerns about the country he calls home.

Beyond politics, Kimmel’s public embrace of his Italian roots highlights a recurring theme in his career: balancing personal narratives with larger societal issues.

He has often referenced his upbringing in Brooklyn, his experiences with family, and his reflections on American life as part of his comedic voice.

This latest revelation of Italian citizenship adds another layer, blending his heritage with a pointed statement about the present political landscape.

As more public figures like Kimmel make similar moves, the discussion about dual citizenship and relocation among celebrities has gained increased visibility.

These choices spark conversations about national identity, personal safety, and political accountability, resonating not only in Hollywood but across social media and mainstream news.

Kimmel’s announcement serves as a reminder that for some, political shifts in the United States have immediate, personal consequences, prompting actions that were once unimaginable, including reclaiming ancestral ties in foreign countries.

Whether or not his decision will inspire others in the entertainment industry to follow suit remains to be seen, but Kimmel’s move exemplifies how deeply intertwined personal heritage and contemporary politics can become, especially in an era where celebrity voices carry enormous cultural weight.

By combining humor, family stories, and pointed commentary, Kimmel has transformed what might have been a simple citizenship announcement into a larger reflection on identity, politics, and the surprising ways in which the past continues to influence decisions in the present. His Italian citizenship is more than a legal status; it is a symbol of both connection and contingency in a rapidly changing world.