Trump vows to strip Rosie O'Donnell of U.S. citizenship

A Longstanding Feud Rekindled: Trump and Rosie O’Donnell

The ongoing rivalry between former President Donald Trump and comedian Rosie O’Donnell has taken another dramatic turn. On Saturday, Trump made a shocking statement on his social media platform, Truth Social, threatening to strip O’Donnell of her U.S. citizenship. This move, however, is not legally possible, as the president does not have the authority to revoke someone’s citizenship.

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 reignited a decades-long feud between the two high-profile figures. The 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution guarantees citizenship to anyone born in the United States, which applies to O’Donnell, who was born in Commack, New York. Despite this, Trump continues to push for policies that would limit birthright citizenship for children of non-citizens, although such efforts have been blocked in court.

In addition to targeting O’Donnell, Trump also recently questioned whether New York City’s Democratic mayoral candidate, Zohran Mamdani, is in the U.S. illegally. There is no evidence to support this claim, as Mamdani, who was born in Uganda, became a naturalized citizen in 2018.

O’Donnell responded to Trump’s post on Instagram, calling out his actions with a mix of humor and defiance. She wrote, “hey donald — you’re rattled again? 18 years later and I still live rent-free in that collapsing brain of yours.” She also highlighted her identity as a “loud woman,” “a queer woman,” and “a mother who tells the truth.”

Her caption did not directly mention Jeffrey Epstein, but the photo she posted alongside it showed Trump with his arm around the disgraced financier. This reference comes amid recent scrutiny over the Trump administration’s handling of files related to Epstein, which faced criticism from conservative media figures.

O’Donnell also compared Trump to King Joffrey from “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.”

This latest attack on O’Donnell follows her announcement in March 2025 that she had moved to Ireland. In a TikTok post, 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 through her Irish grandparents, as the U.S. allows dual citizenship.

The tension between Trump and O’Donnell dates back to 2006 when she was a co-host on “The View” and criticized Trump’s decisions regarding a Miss USA winner. Their exchanges continued over the years, gaining more attention during Trump’s 2015 presidential campaign. During a debate, Trump referenced O’Donnell when asked about his use of derogatory terms to describe women.

The feud highlights the long-standing personal and political clashes between two prominent figures in American public life. As both continue to engage in public discourse, their interactions remain a focal point of media coverage and public interest.