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James Cameron to become New Zealand citizen following Donald Trump’s “sickening” return to power

Fri 28 February 2025 16:29, UK

Director James Cameron is planning to pack up his things and move to New Zealand full time once his citizenship is completed. He has made the country his primary residence for much of the past decade and shoots his films in the region, but Cameron recently revealed that he now plans to apply for citizenship due to his feelings over the election of Donald Trump.

In an interview on The F—ing News podcast, the Oscar winner said that he wants to get out of the US and put down roots in New Zealand in an official capacity after seeing the direction that Trump’s administration is taking with the country.

“I see a turn away from everything decent,” he said. “America doesn’t stand for anything if it doesn’t stand for what it has historically stood for. It becomes a hollow idea, and I think they’re hollowing it out as fast as they can for their own benefit.”

Although he acknowledged that there’s no escaping the global reach of the administration, he said that he at least enjoys a different type of news cycle in New Zealand. “I certainly feel like I don’t have to read about it on the front page every single day. And it’s just sickening,” he said, adding, “There’s something nice about the New Zealand outlets — at least they’ll put it on page three.”

This isn’t Cameron’s first time to alter his citizenship plans based on an American president. Originally from Canada, he revoked his application for US citizenship in 2004 after George W Bush won re-election.

He said that his potential New Zealand citizenship “means a lot” and is “something I’ve worked toward, something I’ve had to sacrifice for.” He also expressed his admiration for the country as a whole, saying, “There’s an innate respect and a demand for respect [here]. Everybody has this kind of equal status in terms of personhood. And I love that – that’s what I wanted my kids to experience.”

Cameron is currently in post-production on the third Avatar movie, Avatar: Fire and Ash, which is set for release in December, 2025.