Trump Threatens Rosie O’Donnell’s Citizenship: Inside Their Never-Ending Feud

Trump Threatens and Rosie O’Donnell Response: The Feud That Never Dies

If American politics were a TV drama, the subplot between Donald Trump and Rosie O’Donnell would be one of those never-ending storylines that keeps coming back every season, louder, messier, and somehow more absurd than before.

This week, the former president once again threatened to revoke O’Donnell’s U.S. citizenship, accusing the comedian of being “not a Great American” and even going so far as to call her a “threat to humanity.” Rosie, who has never been one to hold her tongue, immediately fired back with a mocking Game of Thrones reference, calling Trump “King Joffrey with a tangerine spray tan.” On the surface, it might look like just another celebrity spat. But dig deeper, and this clash highlights something more: Trump’s willingness to push constitutional boundaries for political theater, Rosie’s role as his perpetual foil, and how personal vendettas can sometimes reflect wider cultural divides in America.

The Threat That Holds No Legal Weight

Let’s start with the obvious: Donald Trump cannot strip Rosie O’Donnell—or any native-born American—of citizenship.

The U.S. Constitution is crystal clear on this point. Citizenship is a birthright, protected under the 14th Amendment. The Supreme Court has reinforced multiple times that natural-born citizens cannot be involuntarily stripped of their nationality by the government. Even those who commit treason or espionage can face severe punishments, but they cannot lose their citizenship without voluntarily renouncing it.

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So when Trump told his followers on Truth Social that he was “seriously considering” taking away O’Donnell’s citizenship, it was pure bluster. A political mic drop, yes, but not a legal reality. And Rosie O’Donnell, who was born in the United States, knows that. But here’s the thing: Trump doesn’t need constitutional authority to make the threat effective. His supporters thrive on his combative style, his ability to call out his enemies publicly, and his flair for creating cultural flashpoints out of personal grudges. Trump and O’Donnell’s feud is not new. In fact, it’s nearly old enough to vote.

The saga began back in 2006 when Rosie, then a co-host on The View, tore into Trump for his management of the Miss USA pageant and his controversial decision to give Miss USA Tara Conner a second chance after reports of underage drinking and drug use. Rosie’s words were sharp, mocking Trump’s morality and his business dealings.

Trump, never one to let an insult slide, retaliated with verbal attacks that set the stage for a rivalry that would follow them both for years. Fast forward to 2015. During a Republican primary debate, Megyn Kelly famously pressed Trump about his history of derogatory comments toward women. Trump’s response became iconic: “Only Rosie O’Donnell.”

It was a moment that showcased both his ability to weaponize humor and his refusal to back down, even when facing criticism on a national stage. For Trump, Rosie wasn’t just an enemy; she was the perfect stand-in for every critic he wanted to dismiss.

Rosie O’Donnell has tried, in her own way, to step outside of Trump’s shadow. After Trump’s sweeping 2024 electoral victory against former Vice President Kamala Harris, she relocated to Ireland, citing the toxic political climate in the U.S. as her reason for leaving. “When it is safe for all citizens to have equal rights there in America, that’s when we will consider coming back,” she told her fans on TikTok.

Rosie has since been in the process of obtaining Irish citizenship to join the ranks of dual citizens, though her ties to the U.S. remain strong. But even away from America’s shores, controversy has followed. In the wake of the tragic Minneapolis Catholic school shooting that left two children dead, O’Donnell released a video blaming a Trump supporter and white supremacist for the attack. When the shooter’s actual identity was revealed, she quickly backtracked, apologizing for jumping to conclusions without verifying the facts.

“You are right. I did not do my due diligence before I made that emotional statement,” she admitted to her followers. While the apology softened the blow, critics saw it as another example of how polarizing figures like O’Donnell, and indeed, Trump, can inflame already fragile public debates.

Trump’s Style: Personal Vendettas as Political Strategy

If you look closely at Trump’s political playbook, his battle with Rosie O’Donnell is not just personal, it’s strategic. By keeping the feud alive, Trump reinforces his image as a fighter who doesn’t let his enemies off the hook. He uses Rosie as a cultural punching bag, someone who embodies the Hollywood elite, the outspoken liberal, the critic who “doesn’t love America enough.”

For Trump’s supporters, this message resonates. To them, attacking Rosie isn’t just about her, it’s about rejecting the broader culture they feel looks down on them. It’s worth noting, too, that this feud flares up during politically tense moments. Whether it’s during campaign seasons, policy debates, or controversies about Trump’s leadership, the Rosie rivalry serves as a useful distraction, a way to energize his base and shift media narratives.

Some might wonder why the media (or anyone, for that matter) should still care about Trump and Rosie O’Donnell’s back-and-forth. After all, isn’t it just petty name-calling? The answer is yes—and no.

On the surface, this feud is celebrity gossip mixed with political theater. But it also touches on deeper themes about free speech, the limits of presidential power, and the cultural wars shaping America today. Trump’s threats, even when legally impossible, highlight how political leaders can weaponize rhetoric to intimidate critics. Rosie’s unapologetic responses remind us that outspoken voices still matter, even when they risk missteps along the way.

In many ways, this ongoing feud reflects the polarization of American society itself. Two strong personalities, one representing populist politics, the other representing liberal entertainment, locked in a battle neither seems willing to walk away from.

At the end of the day, Rosie O’Donnell isn’t going to lose her U.S. citizenship, no matter how many times Donald Trump says otherwise. The Constitution protects her from that. But what she can’t be protected from is Trump’s rhetoric, or the way he uses her as a symbol to rally his supporters. For Rosie, the feud has been both a burden and a badge of honor. For Trump, it’s a reliable way to stoke culture wars and assert dominance in the public arena.

Will it ever end? Probably not. Because in the grand reality show of American politics, Trump vs. Rosie O’Donnell is a storyline too juicy to cancel.

And as long as both of them keep firing shots across the ocean of public opinion, we’ll all keep watching, part shocked, part amused, and part exhausted.