Rosie O'Donnell is speaking out about the psychological toll of being a recurring target of President Donald Trump, describing the experience as akin to post-traumatic stress disorder. In a new interview, the comedian and former 'The View' co-host said that relocating to Ireland last year has allowed her to begin reclaiming her identity after what she calls 20 years of being used as a punchline by the most powerful man in the world.
“It’s like a post-traumatic stress disorder for me, considering it’s been 20 years of him using me as a punchline, and so I think that has allowed me to reclaim myself, who I was before all that went down, even though it’s very strange to have supposedly the most powerful man in the world be your arch nemesis,” O'Donnell told People magazine in an interview published Wednesday.
The 64-year-old moved to Ireland last year, citing a “heartbreaking” political climate in the United States. She said the distance from the constant news cycle about Trump has made her “softer.” O'Donnell noted that the welcome she received in Ireland, combined with the break from being “constantly bombarded by news about the current president,” has been transformative.
The feud between O'Donnell and Trump dates back to 2006, when she mocked him on 'The View.' It escalated over the years, with O'Donnell calling Trump a “criminal” and a “con man,” while Trump labeled her a “threat to humanity” and last year said he was “seriously considering” revoking her American citizenship.
O'Donnell, who is currently performing a one-woman show in New York titled 'Common Knowledge,' reflected on the surreal nature of the feud. “First of all, if you had written this as a movie, a stand-up comic makes fun of a reality show host who is a bloviating idiot and he ends up being the president, and then he doesn’t shut up about her for 20 years, it would be unbelievable — and the fact that it’s my life is very trippy,” she said.
She also expressed excitement about guest-hosting for Jimmy Kimmel in mid-August, another high-profile Trump critic. O'Donnell praised Kimmel's “tenacity and strength” and his willingness to speak out against what she called “political terrorism.” She said, “I admire him. I admire his conviction to speak out against this political terrorism that’s happening in our country and I stand beside him and will.”
Despite her move abroad and the years of attacks, O'Donnell insists she remains patriotic. “I am a very patriotic American,” she said. “I love this country.” Her return to the U.S. for the guest-hosting gig and her one-woman show signals a tentative re-engagement with the American public sphere, even as the political landscape remains deeply polarized.
Trump’s ongoing trade wars and tariff policies have dominated headlines, with new tariffs on Canada and Brazil drawing scrutiny from GOP senators worried about affordability. Meanwhile, O'Donnell's experience highlights a personal dimension of the president's long-running habit of targeting critics, a tactic that has defined much of his political career.
In her interview, O'Donnell made clear that she does not see the feud as merely entertainment. “It used to be when our president would say things about me, it would be like, whoa,” she said, underscoring the weight of being a persistent target of a sitting president. Her story serves as a reminder of the human cost of political warfare, even as the broader political battles rage on over issues like SNAP funding and international trade.
