Rosie O'Donnell citizenship row: Why American comedian moved to Ireland after Trump's 2024 win

President Donald Trump on Saturday threatened American talk show host and comedian Rosie O'Donnell, saying he might revoke her citizenship

Published on: Jul 12, 2025, 23:16:28 IST

By Yash Nitish Bajaj

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President Donald Trump on Saturday threatened American talk show host and comedian Rosie O'Donnell, saying he might revoke her citizenship amid her criticism of his administration's handling of weather forecasting agencies in the wake of the deadly Texas floods. O'Donnell is currently in Dublin, Ireland, along with her 12-year-old son.

Rosie O'Donnell moved to Ireland in January (@rosie/Instagram)

"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 wrote on Truth Social.

"She is a Threat to Humanity, and should remain in the wonderful Country of Ireland, if they want her. GOD BLESS AMERICA!," he added.

Under US law, the president cannot revoke the citizenship of an American-born citizen. Rosie O'Donnell was born in New York State.

She responded to Trump's threat on Instagram, saying the president opposes her because she "stands in direct opposition with all he represents." The 63-year-old moved to Ireland in January. In a March TikTok video, the comedian said that she would return to the US “when it is safe for all citizens to have equal rights there in America.”

Why Rosie O'Donnell moved to Ireland

O’Donnell, a vocal Trump critic since 2006, cited the political environment after Trump’s 2024 re-election as a key reason for leaving the US. In a March 2025 TikTok video, she described the situation as “heartbreaking” and “hard for me personally,” emphasizing that “the personal is political.”

She told The New York Times, “I never thought he would win again… But I said, ‘If he does, I’m going to move,’ and my therapist said, ‘Well, let’s make a real plan.’”

O’Donnell was born in Commack, New York, to Irish-American parents with grandparents from County Donegal. She noted, “I see reflections of myself in this country… and my very Irish childhood.”

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Yash Nitish Bajaj
Yash Bajaj is a Chief Content Producer with a strong foundation in US coverage, digital strategy, and audience-focused storytelling. As part of the US Desk at Hindustan Times, he covers a wide range of topics - from American politics to sports (NFL, NBA, derbies, MLB and more). Before joining Hindustan Times, Yash served as Deputy News Editor at Times Now, where he oversaw international coverage and led a team of six. In this role, he significantly expanded global traffic through strategic planning, SEO-driven content execution, and meticulous trend tracking across platforms. He is experienced in managing high-pressure breaking-news shifts, coordinating live coverage, and building newsroom systems that improve speed, accuracy, and reach. Prior to Times Now, Yash held a position at Opoyi, where he headed the Sports and US news team. He developed broad editorial strategies, guided reporters across multiple beats, and played a key role in recruiting and training new talent. His responsibilities also extended to social media management and experimenting with innovative content formats. A passionate NFL fan, Yash is a die-hard supporter of the Cincinnati Bengals and has followed Joe Burrow closely since his college days at LSU. Whether breaking down top players' latest performance, analyzing team performances, or tracking roster moves, he brings the same dedication and sharp storytelling to his sports coverage as he does to American politics and breaking news. When he’s not writing, Yash can often be found watching games or debating the latest NFL storylines with fellow fans. Yash holds a Bachelor of Mass Media (Journalism) from HR College, Mumbai University. His interests extend well beyond the newsroom: he is an enthusiastic explorer of AI tools, a movie buff with an ever-growing watchlist, and someone who enjoys unraveling conspiracy theories for fun.Read More

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