"I see reflections of myself in this country...": Rosie O'Donnell talks about 'drinking too much' after Trump win and settling in Ireland

Following Donald Trump's reelection as US president in 2024, comedian and actor Rosie O'Donnell moved to Dublin, Ireland. Her primary motivations for leaving the US were political disenchantment and the necessity to safeguard her mental health and the welfare of her kid. In an interview, she told The New York Times:

“I see reflections of myself in this country everywhere I look, and reflections of my family and my very Irish childhood."

She added:

"We’re 100 percent Irish. Being Irish Catholic was a very big part of my identity, and coming back here does feel like coming home in a way that’s hard to explain or understand, even for me.”

Five days prior to Trump's inauguration in January 2025, the 62-year-old celebrity disclosed in an emotional Instagram post that she had moved in with her 12-year-old adopted son, Clay. O'Donnell stated:

“It was heartbreaking to see what’s happening politically… we needed to take care of ourselves and make some hard decisions.”

Trump's return had a big effect on Rosie O'Donnell, who has been at conflict with him for 20 years. She stated in a New York Times interview:

“World tragic events have always wiped me out emotionally. I was unbelievably heavy, I was drinking too much. But there were guardrails.”

Rosie O'Donnell claimed that although she had never imagined that Trump would win reelection, she had started getting ready in case. In the interview she stated:

“I said, ‘If he does, I’m going to move,’ and my therapist said, ‘Well, let’s make a real plan.’”

She went on to say:

"I got my passport renewed, I got Clay’s passport renewed. My brother has his passport. All my cousins have their passports. But I was never a traveller.”"

O'Donnell's relocation to Ireland has sparked discussions throughout the world. Irish Taoiseach Micheál Martin was asked by Real America's voice journalist Brian Glenn during a White House event:

“Why in the world would you let Rosie O’Donnell move to Ireland!?”

Seeing Martin perplexed, Trump interrupted and asked:

“Did you know you have Rosie O’Donnell? You’re better off not knowing.”

Later, in a letter to the Taoiseach, Rosie O'Donnell expressed shame at becoming the topic of political banter.

Rosie O'Donnell's 20-year-old feud with Trump

Her feud with Trump dates back to 2006, when she reportedly poked jabs at him while she was on The View, where she allegedly called him a "snake oil salesman" and criticised him for handling the Miss USA controversy.

Trump reportedly responded with a flurry of personal attacks, calling her "loser" and a "real dummy." He even went on to allegedly threaten the program and its creator, Barbara Walters.

During his 2016 Presidential election campaign, there was a rise in hostility. Trump said:

“Only Rosie O'Donnell,” when asked about his disparaging comments about women.

This incident garnered a lot of media attention.

In a debate with Clinton, he also said:

“I think everyone would agree that she deserves it and nobody feels sorry for her.”

Rosie O'Donnell has retaliated throughout the years, reportedly calling Trump a "madman," "fascist," and "mentally unstable." She even opposed his presidency and policies by taking part in demonstrations and promoting political opposition.

“He has it out for me and has for 20 years," she said in a recent appearance on Ireland's Late Late Show.

She added:

"I mentioned his bankruptcies and I mentioned all of the s**ual assault charges and I mentioned that he was not, in fact, the businessman that everyone thinks he is because of the show, 'The Apprentice', where they sold a bunch of lies to America for over 10 years and half of America believed it.”

Rosie O'Donnell said that even after two decades she is still not used to it.

"He’s been doing it for two decades and I’m still not used to it every time he does.”

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