Musician Art Garfunkel is considering leaving the United States, citing concerns about the current political climate and policies under President Donald Trump.
In an interview with The Guardian, Garfunkel, 84, stated his dissatisfaction with America's global standing and its approach to issues such as climate change. "I don’t like America’s position at all," he said. "I’m not aboard, and I’m thinking of leaving the country, frankly."
Garfunkel specifically mentioned the planet's warming temperatures and rising water levels as key concerns. He also questioned U.S. foreign policy decisions, referencing Trump's actions regarding Venezuela. "When Donald Trump took over Venezuela, are those the new rules? Just take over a country and run it?" he asked. "It’s shocking, and you think, ‘How on earth are we gonna change the presidency?’ But Trump won’t last forever, so we’ve got to hope."
Garfunkel's sentiment echoes that of other celebrities who have expressed a desire to leave the U.S. or have relocated due to their opposition to Trump's presidency. Comedian Rosie O’Donnell moved to Ireland following Trump's 2024 election victory, and director James Cameron has long planned a move to New Zealand. Ellen DeGeneres also stated that Trump's election prompted her and her wife to make their stay in the United Kingdom permanent.
Political strategist Kaivan Shroff noted that while celebrity threats to leave the country are often dismissed, Garfunkel's long-standing public profile makes his comments notable. "What’s interesting is the level of alienation he’s expressing," Shroff told Fox News Digital. "He’s looking at the country he has lived in his entire life and saying, essentially, ‘I don’t recognize our role in the world anymore.’"
Shroff suggested that Garfunkel's remarks may be more of a political statement expressing unease about the country's direction rather than a concrete plan to relocate. "The line about leaving America is obviously going to get the attention, but I don’t think that’s really what Garfunkel is saying here," Shroff said. "He sounds genuinely disturbed by where he thinks the country is headed, particularly by the idea that the United States can simply decide the old rules no longer apply."