Star Wars' Mark Hamill Reveals He Almost Left the US After Trump Win — and Why He Chose To Stay

When Donald Trump won the White House in 2016, millions of Americans debated leaving the country — and among them was Mark Hamill, the 73-year-old Star Wars icon best known as Luke Skywalker.

In a candid new interview with The Times, Hamill revealed just how close he came to abandoning the US. The actor said he seriously considered relocating to England or Ireland before his wife, Marilou York, changed his mind.

'She's very clever,' Hamill explained. 'She didn't respond right away, but a week later she said, "I'm surprised you would allow him to force you out of your own country." That son of a b*tch, I thought. I'm not leaving.'

The Force of Patriotism: What Kept Hamill in the US

Hamill says York is responsible for changing his perspective and ultimately keeping him in the US. Even with his frustrations over the political climate, the Life of Chuck star insists he is still hopeful. 'I still believe there are more honest, decent people than there are in the MAGA crowd,' Hamill explained. 'If I didn't, I'd move back to England.'

Hamill isn't the only celebrity who considered or made the move to leave the US due to the political climate; several other well-known figures have also moved out of the US following the election of Donald Trump.

Other Celebrities Who Relocated After Trump's Election

1. Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi

Following Trump's re-election, comedian Ellen DeGeneres and her wife, Portia de Rossi, moved from their Montecito residence to England. According to a November 2024 report by TheWrap, comedian Ellen DeGeneres and her wife, Portia de Rossi, relocated from their Montecito residence to the Cotswolds region in England.

The couple, who were already in the Cotswolds when the election results were announced, decided to stay. According to a source, they have no plans to return to the US. They are now living in a country home called Hiaven, where they tend to their animals and enjoy a more straightforward way of life.

2. Jimmy Kimmel

Jimmy Kimmel Live! Host Jimmy Kimmel, a vocal and long-time critic of the president, has confirmed that he has obtained Italian citizenship in response to Trump's return to office. During an appearance on his ex-girlfriend Sarah Silverman's podcast, Kimmel revealed, 'I do have... I did get Italian citizenship. I do have that.'

'What's going on is... as bad as you thought it was gonna be, it's so much worse,' he added. 'It's just unbelievable. I feel like it's probably even worse than [Trump] would like it to be.'

3. Rosie O'Donnell

A consistent target of the president, Rosie O'Donnell, also confirmed in a recent TikTok video that she left the US, relocating to Ireland in March. The 62-year-old actor and her 12-year-old adopted daughter, Dakota, made the move just five days before Trump was sworn into office.

'I miss many things about life there at home, and I'm trying to find a home here in this beautiful country, and when it is safe for all citizens to have equal rights there in America, that's when we will consider coming back,' she said.

4. Courtney Love

American singer-songwriter Courtney Love is in the process of obtaining her British citizenship, citing that the US has become 'frightening now.' Speaking at London's Royal Geographical Society, she expressed her intent to stay in the UK for good, describing the current political climate as 'emperor-core' and stating, 'it's like cyanide now.'

Love, a well-known figure from the 1990s alternative and grunge scenes, has long expressed her dislike for the president. She even sought refuge in the UK during Trump's first term in office in 2019.

The Trump Camp's Reaction

Unsurprisingly, Trump's team was dismissive of celebrity departures. White House assistant press secretary Taylor Rogers toldBusiness Insider: 'Good riddance!'

But Hamill's story shows a different path: staying put, even when disillusioned. Unlike fellow stars, he concluded that leaving would be conceding defeat.

A Wider Trend of Americans Moving Abroad

It wasn't just celebrities considering a new life overseas. According to a CNN report (December 2024), Bureaucracy.es, an immigration services site that helps Americans move to Spain, saw a 300% increase in consultations after the election.

The numbers reflect a broader anxiety about the direction of US politics — and how far people are willing to go to escape it.