Mark Hamill considered move to Ireland when Donald Trump was re-elected

Mark Hamill revealed that after Donald Trump’s re-election, he genuinely floated the idea of relocating to Ireland—or London—with his wife. But a clever, timely comment from her ultimately kept him Stateside, convinced to stand firm rather than flee.

 Mark Hamill, best known for portraying Luke Skywalker, candidly admitted in The Times that he seriously considered moving abroad following Donald Trump’s re-election. “When Trump was re-elected, he gave his wife a choice: London or Ireland,” he recounted, praising her sharp retort: “She didn't respond right away but a week later she said, 'I'm surprised you would allow him to force you out of your own country.' That son of a bitch, I thought. I'm not leaving."

He framed the political climate as something almost surreal enough to derail his sanity: “The bullying, the incompetence, the people in place… The only way I can deal with it without going crazy and wanting to open my veins in a warm tub is to look at it like a thick, sprawling political novel,” he continued.

“It’s entertaining in a way… our status in the world has been crippled… Making Canada a 51st state… taking over Greenland and renaming the Gulf of Mexico. The distractions are hilarious.”

Mark Hamill has never been shy about his political views—especially when it comes to Donald Trump. Over the years, he’s been a vocal critic, utilizing his sharp wit and signature Joker voice to mock the former president’s tweets and ideas. His impressions of Trump’s rhetoric frequently went viral online, blending satire and disdain.

He notably made an impromptu appearance at the White House press podium to show support for President Joe Biden, a public demonstration of his political stance.

Irish roots

Mark Hamill has long held a special affinity for Ireland, rooted both in ancestry and experience. The actor has ancestral ties to Kilkenny—his great-grandmother, Elizabeth Keating, emigrated from there as a teenager—and possibly to Donegal as well, according to Lovin Dublin.

His connection to Ireland deepened through his experience filming "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" on Skellig Michael, off the coast of Kerry—a location that secured a place in cinematic and Irish cultural history.

Mark Hamill as Luke Skywalker in "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" on Skellig Michael.

His relationship with Ireland also extends beyond film. Hamill was named the inaugural International Guest of Honor at Dublin’s St. Patrick’s Festival, taking a place of honor at the presidential stand during the national parade—an accolade celebrating his contributions and connection to the country.