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Long-Running Feud Resurfaces
The vitriol between Trump and O’Donnell is nothing new. Their public rivalry dates back years, famously spilling into the political spotlight during the 2016 Republican debates when moderator Megyn Kelly confronted Trump over his derogatory remarks about women. Trump shot back with the now-iconic retort:
“Only Rosie O’Donnell.”
Since then, the former president has periodically taken swipes at O’Donnell, and this latest message appears to be another volley designed to provoke outrage from his critics.
Reality Check: Presidential Limits
Despite the uproar, Trump’s threat has no real legal teeth. U.S. presidents cannot unilaterally revoke citizenship from an American citizen, especially natural-born citizens. Under American law, citizenship can only be relinquished voluntarily—such as through formal renunciation—or in extremely rare cases, stripped after legal proceedings for acts like treason. Such decisions fall under the jurisdiction of federal courts and the State Department.
Nevertheless, Trump’s post instantly ignited a frenzy among Democrats and liberal commentators, who viewed it as evidence of authoritarian instincts.
“Every Republican who goes on the Sunday shows tomorrow should be pressed to denounce this illegal and authoritarian proclamation from the president,” fumed far-left media personality Aaron Rupar on X. “And none of this ‘I didn’t read the tweet’ bull***t.”
“We’ve now entered the revoking citizenship of people who are mean to me phase of the presidency. It only gets worse,” lamented liberal Fox News contributor Jessica Tarlov.
O’Donnell’s Irish Exile and Conspiracy Theories
O’Donnell, who has never hidden her disdain for Trump, packed her bags and moved to Ireland after Trump secured victory in the 2024 race. From across the Atlantic, she’s continued firing rhetorical missiles at the former president and casting doubt on the integrity of the U.S. election system.
In one recent interview, O’Donnell floated wild speculation that Trump’s sweeping victories in battleground states were suspicious. She insinuated that Trump’s alleged ties with powerful tech figures might explain his win.
“I would hope that would be investigated and that we would see whether or not it was an anomaly or something else that happened on election night in America when Kamala Harris was filling up stadiums with people who supported her and Donald Trump was not able to do that,” O’Donnell said.
“So it’s curious to me, and as an American and a believer in democracy, I would hope that we would be able to look at all of the reasons why this happened in our country.”
While O’Donnell didn’t explicitly name anyone, her comments seemed squarely aimed at tech mogul Elon Musk, whom she described as “a man who owns and runs the internet.”
Hesitant to Renounce Citizenship—for Now
Despite her criticism of America and her relocation overseas, O’Donnell hasn’t fully severed her ties with her homeland. She’s exploring Irish citizenship but has held back from formally renouncing her U.S. nationality.
“You know, I’m happy. Clay is happy. I miss my other kids. I miss my friends. I miss many things about life there at home and I’m trying to find a home here in this beautiful country and when it is safe for all citizens to have equal rights there in America, that’s when we will consider coming back,” O’Donnell said during an announcement of her move to Ireland this past March.
Political Theater or Real Threat?
Critics say Trump’s post is another example of his bombastic style meant to rile up the left. But his supporters might argue he’s simply shining a spotlight on celebrities who appear to despise the country that made them rich and famous.
One thing is certain: the Trump-O’Donnell drama is far from over—and the political circus surrounding it promises plenty more headlines ahead.
