Joe Pantoliano Considers Leaving the U.S. Due to Unrest Under Trump’s Presidency
Joe Pantoliano, best known for his roles in The Sopranos and The Matrix, has revealed his plans to leave the United States permanently due to his discomfort with the country’s political climate under President Donald Trump’s leadership. The 73-year-old actor from New Jersey, who famously portrayed Ralph “Ralphie” Cifaretto on HBO’s The Sopranos, expressed his growing unease about the state of the nation and its future direction.
In a recent interview at the premiere of Tucci in Italy, Pantoliano admitted that the political tensions under the Trump administration have made him feel unsettled. He revealed to Page Six, “I’m so uncomfortable with the nature of what’s happening in our country, and I just want to run for the hills.” Although Pantoliano didn’t directly mention Trump as his primary reason, his comments reflect the broader sentiment shared by many Americans who have felt disillusioned with the current political landscape.
The actor and his wife, actress Nancy Sheppard, recently returned from a vacation in Portugal, a country they both grew fond of, and have started seriously considering relocating there. Pantoliano shared his admiration for the country’s atmosphere, describing it as a peaceful refuge from the turmoil in the U.S. He expressed concern over Portugal’s recent 18-hour power outage, which he speculated could be a sign of future cyber threats—a concern that resonated with his worries about societal collapse.
Pantoliano also mentioned his personal preparations for potential upheaval, noting that he has been keeping “a lot of cash at home,” though humorously adding that it is “buried” and hard to access. This remark underscores his deep concern about the stability of the U.S. and the possibility of facing a major societal crisis in the future.
His potential move follows the actions of several other high-profile celebrities who have chosen to leave the U.S. after Trump’s 2024 election victory. Actress and comedian Rosie O’Donnell, for example, moved to Ireland with her child, saying in a TikTok video that it was the best decision for her family. Similarly, Ellen DeGeneres and her wife Portia de Rossi relocated to the English countryside, and actor Richard Gere and his wife, Alejandra, are moving to Spain. These relocations highlight a growing trend among celebrities who are seeking refuge abroad due to political divisions and the rising tension under Trump’s leadership.
Pantoliano’s comments echo his previous criticisms of Trump, which he shared in 2021 while promoting the film From the Vine. The actor spoke out against the way figures like Trump have been idolized by some, likening them to antiheroes in The Sopranos and The Godfather—characters he believes represent a corrupt and misguided vision of power.
As Pantoliano considers a future in Portugal, it remains to be seen whether other celebrities will follow suit or if the U.S. will undergo a shift that could change their minds. For now, Pantoliano’s desire to escape to a quieter and less politically fraught environment speaks volumes about his dissatisfaction with the current state of affairs in the U.S.
