Politics gets messy. We all know that. Back in 2016, the atmosphere was electric, tense, and frankly, a bit chaotic. People were making big claims. Some were crying on social media, while others were cheering in the streets. But for a specific group of high-profile stars, the election of Donald Trump wasn't just a news cycle—it was a "get me out of here" moment. You’ve probably seen the memes or the angry tweets asking why they’re still here. It’s one of those pop culture mysteries that bubbles up every election cycle.
The phenomenon of celebrities who said they would leave the country in 2016 became a massive talking point for both sides of the aisle. For critics, it was proof of "Hollywood elitism." For the fans, it was a genuine expression of fear or frustration. But if you look at the actual list of names, the reality of who packed their bags and who stayed put is a lot more nuanced than a 280-character tweet suggests.
Honestly, moving is hard. Even if you're a millionaire.
The Names That Defined the Drama
When we talk about celebrities who said they would leave the country in 2016, Miley Cyrus is usually the first name that comes up. She was very vocal on Instagram. She posted photos of herself crying. She called Trump a "nightmare." At one point, she literally wrote that she would move if he won. But after the results came in, she posted a tearful video saying she accepted him as President and decided to stay to fight for the causes she cared about. It was a total pivot.
Then there was Amy Schumer.
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She’s a comedian, so she claimed her comments were a joke. Schumer had mentioned moving to Spain if Trump won, but later clarified on social media that it was "vaudeville" and that anyone telling her to pack her bags was just being "trolls." It highlights a big issue with this whole topic: the line between a literal promise and a hyperbolic joke is paper-thin in show business.
Who Else Made the List?
- Samuel L. Jackson told Jimmy Kimmel he’d move his "black ass to South Africa" if Trump became president. He later clarified he wasn't going anywhere.
- Whoopi Goldberg had a heated moment on The View where she said, "Maybe it's time for me to move, you know. I can afford to go." She never actually left.
- Bryan Cranston was a bit more specific. He suggested he’d move to Vancouver. It’s a nice city. Lots of filming happens there. But Cranston is still a staple of the American acting scene.
- Chelsea Handler actually claimed she had already bought a house in another country. Later, she said she stayed because she felt she needed to use her voice at home.
Why Do They Say It?
It's usually about emotion. When people feel like their values are under threat, "fleeing" is a natural psychological response. For celebrities, they have a platform that makes these feelings loud. Really loud. But the logistical reality of leaving the United States is a nightmare, even for the wealthy.
Think about taxes. The U.S. is one of the few countries that taxes citizens regardless of where they live in the world. To truly "leave" and stop paying Uncle Sam, you have to renounce your citizenship. That costs money, takes years, and makes it incredibly difficult to come back for work. For an actor whose entire industry is based in Los Angeles or New York, moving to Italy sounds romantic until you realize you're flying 12 hours for every audition or table read.
Did Anyone Actually Leave?
This is the part that gets people. Most celebrities who said they would leave the country in 2016 stayed exactly where they were. However, there are a few "sorta" cases. Neve Campbell moved to London, but she had lived there before and it wasn't strictly a "political exile."
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Lena Dunham is another one. She mentioned moving to Vancouver. She didn't. She stayed and continued her work in the U.S.
The discrepancy between the words and the actions is why this topic stays so relevant in SEO and political debates. It’s about accountability. Or at least, the perception of it. People love to point out when someone doesn't follow through on a public "threat."
The Backlash and the "Get Out" Narrative
The internet doesn't forget. Whenever one of these celebrities posts something political today, the comments are immediately flooded. "I thought you were moving to Canada?" "Why are you still here?" It's become a standard rhetorical weapon.
There's a specific irony in the fact that many of these stars are now more politically active than ever. Instead of leaving, they’ve doubled down on American activism. Whether you like their politics or not, they’ve basically chosen to stay and participate in the system they criticized.
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What We Get Wrong About Celebrity Promises
We tend to take celebrities way too literally. When a musician says "I'm going to kill myself" in a song, we know it's art. When a comedian says "I'm moving to Jupiter," we know it's a joke. But in the 2016 election, the stakes felt so high that every word was treated like a legal contract.
Most of these stars were speaking from a place of immediate, visceral reaction. It’s the "flight" part of "fight or flight." Once the dust settled, the "fight" part usually kicked in.
The Reality of Moving Abroad
Moving isn't just packing a suitcase. It's a life overhaul.
- Visas: You can't just move to Canada because you're famous. You need a work permit or residency.
- Family: Most of these celebrities have kids in school, elderly parents, or spouses with their own careers.
- Industry Ties: Hollywood is a local business. If you aren't in the "room," you're out of the loop.
Looking Toward the Future
We see this every four years now. It happened in 2004 with George W. Bush. It happened in 2012 with Obama. It definitely happened in 2016. And it'll happen again. The cycle of "celebrities who said they would leave the country" is now a permanent fixture of the American election cycle.
It’s a symptom of how polarized we are. We want the people we disagree with to just go away. And they, in their frustration, often say they will. But the reality is that the U.S. is home, and moving is a massive pain in the neck.
Actionable Insights for Navigating Celebrity News:
- Check the source: Many "lists" of celebrities moving are actually compiled by clickbait sites that take a single tweet out of context.
- Look for the follow-up: If a star says they are leaving, wait six months. Usually, they've issued a clarification or a "why I stayed" statement that explains their actual position.
- Understand the Hyperbole: Recognize that in the heat of an election, public figures often use extreme language to signal how much they care about an issue. It's rarely a literal travel itinerary.
- Monitor the Tax Factor: If you're genuinely curious if someone left, look at their business dealings. If they are still filming in Georgia or New York, they haven't moved.