1776Reporting
President Donald Trump didn’t hold back when addressing Rosie O’Donnell’s decision to leave America for Ireland. The former president made his remarks during a meeting at the White House with Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin, where the topic unexpectedly surfaced.
A reporter, seizing the moment, turned to the Irish leader and quipped, “Ireland is known for very happy, fun-loving people. Why in the world would you let Rosie O’Donnell move to Ireland? I think she is going to lower your happiness.”
Before Martin could respond, Trump jumped in. “That’s true, I like that question. Do you know you have Rosie O’Donnell? Do you know who she is? You’re better off not knowing.”
O’Donnell, a longtime critic of Trump, recently revealed she has been living in Ireland and is working on obtaining Irish citizenship. In a TikTok video, the 62-year-old comedian expressed her joy about the move.
“It’s been pretty wonderful, I have to say,” she shared. “And the people have been so loving, so kind and so welcoming. And I’m very grateful.”
O’Donnell’s departure from the U.S. came on January 15, just days before Trump’s inauguration.
“Although I was someone who never thought I would move to another country, that’s what I decided would be the best for myself and my 12-year-old child,” she explained.
A Feud That Spans Years
Trump and O’Donnell have been locked in a war of words since 2006 when she publicly criticized him on “The View.” At the time, she called out his handling of a scandal involving Miss USA winner Tara Conner, who faced allegations of drug use and misconduct.
Trump, standing by Conner, had said, “I’m a believer in second chances. Tara is a good person. Tara has tried hard. Tara is going to be given a second chance.”
O’Donnell’s remarks enraged Trump, who fired back, calling her a “real loser.”
Over the years, the animosity only grew. In 2014, O’Donnell claimed the feud caused “the most bullying I ever experienced in my life.”
During the 2015 Republican primary debate, Trump was asked about derogatory comments he had made about women, including calling them “fat pigs” and “slobs.” His response?
“Only Rosie O’Donnell.”
Even after becoming president, Trump continued to take jabs at O’Donnell. In 2020, at the Al Smith dinner, he suggested “The View” had gotten “so bad” that producers should “really need to bring Rosie O’Donnell back.”
WATCH: TRUMP POKES FUN AT ROSIE O’DONNELL AFTER SHE FLEES US
A New Life in Ireland
Despite their long-standing feud, O’Donnell insists she’s content in her new home.
“I miss my other kids,” she admitted, referring to her grown children. “I miss my friends. I miss many things about life there at home. And I’m trying to find a home here in this beautiful country.”
However, she isn’t ruling out a return to the U.S. someday.
“When it is safe for all citizens to have equal rights there in America, that’s when we will consider coming back.”
O’Donnell, who starred in “The Flintstones” and numerous other films and TV shows, still keeps a close watch on American politics. She hopes the country can shift in the right direction.
“I am hoping that we can turn things around. I’m counting on you, all of you, to do what’s right. And I think deep down inside we all know what that is.”
As for Trump, his stance on O’Donnell seems unchanged—something Ireland’s prime minister might now be realizing firsthand.
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