Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi may be planning a return to the U.S. after spending the last few years living in the British countryside, according to new reports. The well-known Hollywood couple moved to the Cotswolds, a rural area in England, after President Donald Trump won the 2024 election. At the time, they sold off their real estate holdings in California and said they were ready for a fresh start overseas.
Now, sources close to the couple say they’re planning a visit to California for the holidays — and possibly a longer stay. While some believe it’s just to escape the cold U.K. winter, others suggest the real reason may have more to do with work and old friendships than the weather.
Reports say Portia de Rossi is eager to return to acting, something that’s harder to do while living far from Hollywood. With no U.S. home of their own anymore, the pair will have to either rent or buy again if they decide to stay long-term. Their return would mark a big change after previously saying they had no plans to come back while Trump was president.
One source told The Daily Mail, “Ellen was adamant that she and Portia were going to stay in the U.K. while Trump was in the White House, but evidently she’s changed her mind somewhat.” The source added that DeGeneres has been telling friends they miss their old life, and that they’ll be “here for the holidays and longer by the sound of it.”
Liberals never leave. Oh, they say they do, and even when they actually do leave for a moment, they unfortunately eventually come back. Case in point: lunatic Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi. pic.twitter.com/7WJa3DyfO3
— Liberals Leaving
(@LiberalsLeaving) December 1, 2025
(@LiberalsLeaving) DeGeneres has previously been open about why they left. She once told friends that the political atmosphere in the U.S. made her uncomfortable. At the time, she said she wanted to live somewhere more peaceful. After moving, the couple upgraded from their first home in Oxfordshire to a larger estate with room for de Rossi’s horses.
“When we decided to live here full-time, we knew that Portia couldn’t live without her horses,” DeGeneres said in a past interview. “We needed a home that had a horse facility and pastures for them.”
Despite their earlier confidence in life abroad, things may be changing. A source close to DeGeneres said that while their return may only be temporary, it’s happening “sooner rather than later.” The source also said the couple is missing their friends and the California sunshine.
Some observers have noted that the couple’s decision to move back — even part-time — could raise eyebrows, especially after they made it clear they were leaving due to the political shift in America. With President Trump still in office and Vice President J.D. Vance working alongside him, it’s unclear what may have softened DeGeneres’ stance.
While their future plans remain uncertain, what is clear is that the pull of familiar faces, warm weather, and career opportunities may be stronger than expected. Whether it’s just for the holidays or something more permanent, DeGeneres and de Rossi appear to be making their way back — at least for now.
