Rosie O’Donnell revealed on a recent episode of the “No Filter” podcast (via Entertainment Weekly) that she was forced to miss her daughter’s college graduation due to security concerns regarding her potential return to the United States amid an ongoing feud with Donald Trump. The television icon moved to Ireland after Trump was re-elected president last November.
“My daughter graduated college and I didn’t go back because the security people said to me they didn’t think it was wise,” O’Donnell said. “Because I think Trump will use me to rile his base.”
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O’Donnell and Trump’s infamous feud has been revived in recent months. Trump posted on Truth Social in July that he was going to revoke O’Donnell’s citizenship even though he does not have the authority to do so.
“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,” Trump posted at the time. “She is a Threat to Humanity, and should remain in the wonderful Country of Ireland, if they want her.”
O’Donnell said during the new podcast interview: “[Trump’s] ability to denigrate people and dismiss them and humiliate them encouraged other people to do the same.”
Speaking to Variety earlier this year, O’Donnell said she currently has no plans to move back to the United States. She explained: With the current political climate, when would it be safe to come back with my child? I’m not going to push it before this administration is completely finished, and hopefully held accountable for their crimes.”
O’Donnell frequently speaks out against Trump. In a TikTok post over the summer, she expressed concern that Trump would find a way to get “The View” canceled since its current hosts, including Whoopi Goldberg and Joy Behar, do not align with Trump’s views.
“The show with five women speaking their own opinions. That’s the threat now,” O’Donnell said. at the time “Because it’s not enough to run the country into the ground. You have to control what people see. What they hear. What they think. And ‘The View’? Well, that’s a little too much woman — a little too much truth — a little too much Joy Behar saying ‘I don’t think the insurrection was a tourist visit, Karen.’ Apparently, the truth is dangerous now.”
O’Donnell’s statement, and her decision to cite Joy Behar, clearly hit a nerve with Trump’s White House. Spokesperson Taylor Rogers railed against both women when asked for comment by Variety about O’Donnell’s TikTok post, writing: “Rosie O’Donnell and ‘Joyless’ Behar are irrelevant losers with too much time on their hands, whining about a failing talk show while everyday Americans are working hard. Our country is better off with Rosie living abroad — and we can all hope ‘Joyless’ Behar will join her next!”
Watch O’Donnell’s full interview on the “No Filter” podcast in the video below.
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