Is Jimmy Kimmel the next big American celebrity to move to Europe to escape Donald Trump?

Celebrated American comedian and talk show host Jimmy Kimmel has revealed he has obtained Italian citizenship, following Donald Trump’s comments that Kimmel’s show could be “next” on the chopping block after CBS cancelled Stephen Colbert’s show.

Kimmel, a longtime critic of Trump, referred to his dual citizenship during an appearance on The Sarah Silverman Podcast.

“I did get Italian citizenship,” Kimmel shared – something which was confirmed by Italian news agency Ansa, who said that he obtained Italian citizenship this year after proving his ancestral lineage.

He noted that several American A-listers – including Ellen DeGeneres and Rosie O’Donnell – had also sought dual citizenship considering the current state of affairs in the US, with Trump targeting media personalities who don’t politically align with him and are vocally critical of his administration.

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

Kimmel has often criticised Trump in monologues on his show Jimmy Kimmel Live!. He has also spoken out against the president when hosting the Oscars, memorably fueling their feud in 2024 by reading out Trump’s criticism of the ceremony before the announcement of Best Picture.

Trump posted on Truth Social during the ceremony and called Kimmel a bad host, to which Kimmel responded: “Well, thank you President Trump. Thank you for watching, I’m surprised you’re still up – isn’t it past your jail time?”

The host has also referred to Trump as “Commander-In-Thief”, “His MAGA-Sty”, “Jabba The Pizza Hut” and “The Shart of the Deal” – in reference to Trump’s book, “The Art of the Deal”.

The news of Kimmel’s dual citizenship comes after the bombshell news that CBS was ending The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, which pulls no punches when it comes to slamming Trump.

In a press conference last week, Trump stated: “(Jimmy) Fallon has no talent. Kimmel has no talent. They’re next. They’re going to be going. I hear they’re going to be going. I don’t know, but I would imagine because they’d get — you know, Colbert has better ratings than Kimmel or Fallon.”

Trump doubled down in a Truth Social post: “Next up will be an even less talented Jimmy Kimmel, and then, a weak, and very insecure, Jimmy Fallon. The only real question is, who will go first?”

Kimmel fired back with an Instagram post referencing Trump’s friendship with convicted sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein: “I’m hearing you’re next. Or maybe it’s just another wonderful secret” – a reference to a line in a letter to Epstein that Trump has denied writing that expresses hope that “every day be another wonderful secret.”

Kimmel’s fellow comedian Rosie O’Donnell recently shared fears that the show The View would also be axed for not bowing down to Trump.

O’Donnell, who was a host on the show from 2006 to 2007 and has frequently feuded with Trump, wrote: “You know what I just read today? ABC is ‘reviewing the liberal bias’ on ‘The View’. The show with five women speaking their own opinions. That’s the threat now. They say they’re not cancelling it, they’re just ‘reviewing the bias,’ which is code for – we’re gonna cancel it, we’re just trying to soften you up first.”

The comedian moved to Ireland after Trump was re-elected, and has faced threats from Trump over her US citizenship.

Kimmel has hosted the ABC late-night comedy show Jimmy Kimmel Live! for 22 years. The current contract for the show runs out in 2026.

Jimmy Kimmel reveals he got Italian citizenship, hints at moving to Europe over Trump’s second term: ‘It’s just unbelievable’

Jimmy Kimmel has revealed he got an Italian citizenship, hinting at a possible move to Europe because he’s scared of President Trump.

The talk show host, 57, lamented the commander-in-chief just days after Trump said he and his fellow late-night host Jimmy Fallon would be next to lose their jobs following the cancellation of Stephen Colbert’s CBS show.

“I do have … I did get Italian citizenship. I do have that,” Kimmel said on “The Sarah Silverman Podcast,” admitting he’s very much considering leaving the US for good.

Jimmy Kimmel on Sarah Silverman's podcast.
Jimmy Kimmel has hinted at a possible move to Europe after revealing he’s now an Italian citizen.Sarah Silverman / YouTube
Silverman pointed out that some of Trump’s fiercest critics have packed their bags and fled the country — something Kimmel admitted he’s considering doing.

“What’s going on is … as bad as you thought it was gonna be, it’s so much worse. It’s just unbelievable. I feel like it’s probably even worse than [Trump] would like it to be,” Kimmel responded.

Kimmel added that he had no hard feelings toward former MAGA supporters who are now doing a 180 on their political stance.

“There are a lot of people … now you see these clips of Joe Rogan saying, ‘Why’s he doing this? He shouldn’t be deporting people.’ People go, ‘F–k you, you supported him.’ I don’t buy into that. I don’t believe ‘F–k you, you supported him,’” he said, referring to the podcaster speaking out against Trump’s deportation policy after having supported the commander-in-chief in previous elections.

Host Jimmy Kimmel speaks onstage during the 95th Annual Academy Awards at Dolby Theatre on March 12, 2023 in Hollywood, California.
The talk show host, 57, lamented President Trump’s second term in office, saying he’s very much considering leaving the US for good.Getty Images

Jimmy Kimmel shows off a Vote sticker on his forehead.
Kimmel added that he had no hard feelings toward former MAGA supporters who are now doing a 180 on their political stance.@jimmykimmel/Instagram
“I think the door needs 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’s so hard and so rare to do. You are welcome.”

Kimmel’s podcast appearance comes just days after Trump doubled down on his claim that the comedian will be losing his job next.


As rumors began to swirl about Howard Stern’s Sirius XM radio show reportedly getting the boot, the POTUS had some choice words for the current world of late-night TV.

“Well, it hasn’t worked,” Trump said. “And it hasn’t worked, really, for a long time, and I would say pretty much from the beginning. Colbert has no talent.”

U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during a press conference
Kimmel’s podcast appearance comes just days after Trump doubled down on his claim that the comedian will be losing his job next.REUTERS

"Jimmy Kimmel Live!"
Kimmel has served as the host of “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” since 2003.Disney via Getty Images

“I mean, I could take anybody here. I could go outside in the beautiful streets and pick a couple of people that do just as well or better. They’d get higher ratings than he did. He’s got no talent,” he went on.

“Fallon has no talent. Kimmel has no talent. They’re next. They’re going to be going. I hear they’re going to be going. I don’t know, but I would imagine because they’d get — you know, Colbert has better ratings than Kimmel or Fallon.”