A New Round in the Longstanding Feud Between Trump and Rosie O’Donnell
President Donald Trump has once again reignited a long-standing feud with comedian Rosie O’Donnell, this time by threatening to strip her of her U.S. citizenship—a move that is not legally possible. The exchange highlights the ongoing tension between the two figures, who have had a history of public clashes for nearly two decades.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump wrote, “Because of the fact that Rosie O’Donnell is not in the best interests of our Great Country, I am giving serious consideration to taking away her Citizenship. She is a Threat to Humanity, and should remain in the wonderful Country of Ireland, if they want her. GOD BLESS AMERICA!”
This statement sparked immediate backlash, as it is important to note that the U.S. president does not have the legal authority to revoke someone’s citizenship. The 14th Amendment guarantees citizenship to anyone born in the United States, and O’Donnell was born in Commack, New York. Despite this, Trump’s comments reflect his broader efforts to challenge birthright citizenship, which have faced legal obstacles in court.
O’Donnell responded to Trump’s remarks on Instagram, where she mocked his claims and referenced their long history of conflict. She wrote, “hey donald — you’re rattled again? 18 years later and I still live rent-free in that collapsing brain of yours.” Her caption also included a photo of Trump with Jeffrey Epstein, a disgraced financier who died in 2019 after being accused of sex trafficking.
The mention of Epstein comes amid recent scrutiny of the Trump administration’s handling of files related to the financier. Conservative media figures have criticized the administration for claiming that an “exhaustive review” found no incriminating evidence against Epstein.
O’Donnell also compared Trump to King Joffrey from the popular series “Game of Thrones,” writing, “You want to revoke my citizenship? Go ahead and try, king joffrey with a tangerine spray tan. I’m not yours to silence. I never was.”
Trump’s latest attacks on O’Donnell came after she revealed in a TikTok post that she had moved to Ireland in January 2025. She stated, “When it’s safe for all citizens to have equal rights there, in America, that’s when we’ll consider coming back.” O’Donnell also mentioned that she was in the process of obtaining Irish citizenship, as she has Irish grandparents. The U.S. allows dual citizenship, so she can maintain her American nationality while living in Ireland.
This move to Ireland was not new to Trump, who had previously commented on it during a visit by Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin. Trump questioned why Ireland would allow O’Donnell to move there, saying, “Why in the world would you let Rosie O’Donnell move to Ireland? I think she’s going to lower your happiness levels.”
The rivalry between Trump and O’Donnell dates back to 2006, when O’Donnell, then a co-host of “The View,” criticized Trump’s decisions regarding a Miss USA winner. Their exchanges continued over the years, but the feud gained renewed attention in 2015 when Trump invoked O’Donnell’s name during a presidential debate.
Throughout their public clashes, both have used sharp words and personal attacks, reflecting the deep-seated animosity between them. While Trump’s threats to revoke O’Donnell’s citizenship are legally unfounded, they underscore the ongoing political and personal tensions that continue to define their relationship.
