ALBAWABA - Since their animosity began over two decades ago, Rosie O'Donnell and Donald Trump have not minced words about one other.
During a 2006 Hot Topics segment on The View, the former host criticized Trump for being the "moral authority" in the controversy surrounding Tara Conner, the Miss USA winner accused of underage drinking and cocaine use. He irritates me on various levels. [He] left the first marriage, had an affair, left the second wife, had an affair, and had children both times, yet he is the moral compass for 20-year-olds in America," she remarked. "Donald, sit and spin, my friend. " "I don't enjoy him."
In an interview with PEOPLE, Trump replied by labeling O'Donnell a "woman out of control," and their animosity has lasted ever since, with the now-president often calling out the former talk show host on social media.
Most recently, O'Donnell attributed her relocation to Ireland to Donald Trump's second inauguration as president in January 2025. He "has it out for me and has for 20 years, when I told the truth about him on a program called The View," O'Donnell stated during a March 2025 interview on RTÉ's Late Late Show.
Trump has subsequently threatened to remove O'Donnell's US citizenship.
So, why do Rosie O'Donnell and Donald Trump feud? Here's all you need to know about the roots of their disagreement and why it has persisted for over two decades.
O'Donnell and Trump originally feuded in December 2006, when O'Donnell called him out during a Hot Topics episode on The View. She brought up the issue surrounding Miss USA winner Conner and Trump's answer, in which he stated, "I've always believed in second chances." Tara is a wonderful person. Tara has worked hard. Tara will be given another opportunity.
On the show, O'Donnell echoed Trump's comments and referred to him as the "snake-oil salesman from Little House On The Prairie." "This man is not a self-made man," she said, referring to his prosperous father.
Trump reacted in an interview with PEOPLE, saying that his father "never gave [him] tons of money."
"You can't make false statements," he explained. "Rosie will regret the words she spoke. I'll probably sue her for making those false comments—and it'll be fantastic. Rosie is a loser. "A true loser."
Since then, the two have engaged in an ongoing verbal battle, focusing mostly on X. After O'Donnell announced her engagement to then-fiancée Michelle Rounds in December 2011, Trump posted on X that he felt "sorry" for Rounds' parents, labeling O'Donnell a "loser" once more.
Years later, Trump attacked O'Donnell on X again after she spoke openly about her weight reduction struggle, labeling her "not politically correct" for doing so.
Later that year, O'Donnell told PEOPLE that the "bullying" she faced, particularly from Trump, had an emotional impact on her.
"Probably the Trump stuff was the most bullying I ever experienced in my life, including as a child," she said. "It was national, and it was socially acceptable. Whether I earned it is up to your perspective."
During his first presidential campaign, Trump repeatedly mentioned O'Donnell, including at the first Republican presidential primary debate in August 2015, when former Fox host Megyn Kelly questioned the now-president about his use of language to describe women such as "fat pigs," "dogs," "slobs," and "disgusting animals."
"Only Rosie O'Donnell," he said.
The former TV host's name resurfaced the following year as he ran against Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton. "I said very tough things to Rosie O'Donnell, somebody who has been very vicious to me, and I think everybody would agree that she deserves it and nobody feels sorry for her," he said.
O'Donnell later retaliated in a now-deleted post on X, calling him an "orange anus."
Following his election, O'Donnell revealed in an October 2017 interview with W Magazine that she was concerned about her ability to "live through" his administration.
"It has taken me a full year to integrate the reality of him being a president in a way that I express my thoughts clearly, without being overwhelmed by rage or sadness," she stated. "I've spent a year regaining my equilibrium and resurfacing."
O'Donnell went on to say, "I'm worried about whether I'll be able to live through [his presidency] and if the country will be able to survive. It's a terrible thought, being on the verge of nuclear war with a maniac in command."
The View alum did not hesitate to express her dissatisfaction, attending a demonstration outside the White House in August 2018.
Following Trump's second inauguration in January 2025, O'Donnell revealed that she had left the United States for Ireland, stating on TikTok that she and her kid, Clay, would consider returning when "it is safe for all citizens to have equal rights there in America."
Weeks later, she told the Late Late Show that she was still stunned by Trump's frequent references to their fight. "He was very angry, to say the least, and he hasn't let it go," she stated of her criticism of him in 2006. "And he sort of uses me as a punchline whenever he feels the need."
When Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin paid a visit to the White House on St. Patrick's Day, Trump shared his thoughts on O'Donnell's emigration. After a reporter asked Martin why he would enable O'Donnell to relocate to Ireland, Trump said that he "like[d]" the question before asking Martin whether he knew her. Martin dismissed the query, and Trump joked that the leader was "better off" not knowing.
Regarding Trump's continued public criticism of her, O'Donnell stated: "He's been doing it for two decades, and I'm still not used to it every time he does."
In July 2025, Trump declared on social media that he is "giving serious consideration" to removing O'Donnell's US citizenship.
"She is a threat to humanity and should stay in the wonderful country of Ireland if they want her." "God bless America," he wrote.
O'Donnell reacted with an Instagram post, stating, "You want to revoke my citizenship?" King Joffrey, go ahead and attempt a tangerine spray tan. I am not yours to silence. "I never was."
Celebrities, like Ellen DeGeneres, responded to Trump's statements by expressing their support for the comedian.
