"Moved to New Zealand Because of Trump": Hollywood Director James Cameron Speaks Out

James Cameron Leaves the United States
Prominent Figures Disappointed by American Politics Move Abroad

James Cameron, a renowned director representing Hollywood, has revealed the reasons behind his decision to leave the United States and settle in New Zealand, expressing critical views on American society and its policies.

James Cameron, the director of "Avatar," is attending the Australasian premiere of the movie Avatar: Fire and Ashes held in Wellington, New Zealand, on December 13, 2025. Photo by AFP Yonhap News

According to local U.S. media, Cameron recently appeared on the podcast "In Depth with Graham Bensinger," where he stated that the way the COVID-19 pandemic was handled played a major role in his decision to relocate. He emphasized that, in the early days of the pandemic, New Zealand managed to effectively contain the spread of the virus twice, and by the time variant strains entered the country, the vast majority of the population had already been vaccinated. Cameron explained that this approach was the reason he came to trust New Zealand.

He pointed out the stagnation and even decline in vaccination rates in the United States, commenting, "Society as a whole is heading in an irrational direction." He added, "If you ask yourself whether you want to live in a society that respects science and the public good, or one where extreme political conflict leads to constant strife, the answer is obvious."

When the host remarked that the United States is still an attractive country, Cameron responded skeptically with a brief, "Really?" In response to praise for New Zealand's natural environment, he replied, "I chose it not for the scenery, but for common sense."

According to Hollywood trade media, Cameron had already disclosed a year ago that he was on track to obtain New Zealand citizenship. At the time, referring to the state of American society after President Donald Trump returned to office, he said, "I witnessed a departure from everything decent. If America abandons the values it has historically upheld, it stands for nothing," and criticized, "The long-standing values and dignity of America are being eroded, and certain groups are rapidly undermining them for their own interests."

Regarding his current life in New Zealand, he said he feels a sense of psychological stability. He particularly highlighted the fact that political news does not dominate daily life, saying, "It is definitely comforting not to have to read about Trump on the front page of the newspaper every day. It's disgusting. There is something good about the New Zealand media: at least they put (Trump articles) on page three."

Born in Canada and having moved to the United States as a teenager, Cameron rose to the ranks of Hollywood's top directors with a string of box office hits including "The Terminator," "Aliens," "Titanic," and the "Avatar" series. With "Titanic," he won the Academy Award for Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Editing simultaneously.

There are other prominent figures who have considered or actually moved abroad out of disappointment with American society following Donald Trump's re-election. Popular talk show host Jimmy Kimmel acquired Italian citizenship, while actress and comedian Rosie O'Donnell relocated to Ireland. Comedian Ellen DeGeneres and actress Portia de Rossi also moved to the United Kingdom. Others include Courtney Love, Richard Gere, and Eva Longoria.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.