James Cameron explains why he traded the U.S. for New Zealand during Trump’s first term

James Cameron on the program In Depth with Graham Besinger - YouTube reproduction
James Cameron on the program In Depth with Graham Besinger – YouTube reproduction

In a new interview, the director of “Avatar” revealed the reasons that led him to leave the U.S. and move permanently to New Zealand in 2020.

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Living with his family in New Zealand since 2020, James Cameron shared the reasons that led him to leave the United States in 2020, during Donald Trump’s first term.

In a recent interview, the director of “Avatar” spoke about his admiration and fascination with the country located in Oceania and how the COVID-19 pandemic made him want to live there.

During his appearance on the program “In Depth with Graham Besinger”, Cameron, 71, who first visited New Zealand in 1994, said that even back then he had decided that one day he would live there, but that it was the way the country handled the COVID crisis that convinced him to make the move permanent.

“New Zealand completely eliminated the virus,” he said. “In fact, they eliminated the virus twice. The third time, when it reappeared in a mutated form, it managed to spread. But fortunately, they already had a 98% vaccination rate. That’s why I love New Zealand. People there are mostly sensible, unlike the United States, where the vaccination rate was 62%, and it’s dropping, heading in the wrong direction.”

James Cameron on the program In Depth with Graham Besinger - YouTube reproduction
James Cameron on the program In Depth with Graham Besinger – YouTube reproduction

“Where would you rather live?” Cameron asked the host. “In a place that truly believes in science, is sensible, and where people can work together cohesively toward a common goal, or in a place where everyone is in conflict, extremely polarized, turning their backs on science and that would basically fall into complete chaos if another pandemic were to emerge?”

Besinger praised the U.S. and said it was a fantastic place to live, but the director of “Titanic” did not seem to agree and was emphatic in sharing the real reason he moved to New Zealand, after the host commented on the country’s beautiful landscapes.

“I’m not there for the scenery, I’m there for my peace of mind.”

Images: YouTube reproduction. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.

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