Rosie O’Donnell has finally confirmed recent rumors that she left the United States following the reelection of her long-standing nemesis President Donald Trump.
In a nearly ten-minute video shared on TikTok this week, the 62-year-old former talk show host and outspoken liberal activist revealed that she and her 12-year-old child, Dakota—who now goes by the name Clay—relocated to Ireland on January 15.
The move came just days before Trump was officially sworn in for his second term as the 47th President of the United States.
“It’s been pretty wonderful, I have to say. The people are so loving and so kind, so welcoming and I’m very grateful,” O’Donnell said. “I was never someone who thought I would move to another country.”
Our country got a little better upon Rosie O’Donnell’s exit 🙏 pic.twitter.com/JxiTi5TOcf
— American Archer (@CalenArcher) March 12, 2025
The former “View” co-host explained that the move was made in the best interest of both herself and her child.
“I’m happy. Clay is happy,” she stated. “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,” she dramatically added.
Rosie O’Donnell moved to Ireland! 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 pic.twitter.com/wWAg8lcaMT
— 🇺🇸 Crass 🇺🇸 (@mtngolfer85) March 11, 2025
O’Donnell, who has five children—Parker, 29, Chelsea, 27, Blake, 25, Vivienne, 22, and Dakota nee Clay, 12—has been an outspoken critic of Trump for years.
She hinted in her video that a return to the U.S. would be contingent on a major political shift.
“It’s been heartbreaking to see what’s happening politically and hard for me personally as well. The personal is political, as we all know,” she said, alluding to her years-long feud with Trump.
Although she did not mention the former president by name, O’Donnell suggested that the political environment made it necessary for her and her child to “take care of ourselves and make some hard decisions and follow through.”
The comedian also blasted American media, claiming they have failed in their duty to keep the public informed.
Can we all come together and pray for Ireland please. Rosie o’Donnell has moved there. I am thankful she left America, but I wouldn’t wish her upon anyone. pic.twitter.com/OdJx4rqaRq
— Tararyzer (@tsmyth01) March 12, 2025
“The legacy media in America has been letting us all down,” she claimed. “They haven’t been doing their job, which they are required to do in order to maintain a democracy.”
She further insisted that the only reliable source for news on “protests and whatnot” was TikTok, though she failed to provide any specifics.
“So, here’s hoping that they [media] will get better before it’s too late,” she continued. “And here’s hoping that it’s not too late already. Protect your sanity is all I can say. Protect your sanity as much as you can, and try not to swim in the chaos if possible. But I know it’s nearly impossible when you’re there in the middle of it.”
Rosie O’Donnell has “self-deported” in the first 100 days of the Trump administration!
I never get tired of winning! pic.twitter.com/P0HQKIk32y
— Jeffrey Davis (@jeffreybdavis) March 12, 2025
“I think about everyone every day and the United States of America,” she added.
“And I am hoping that we can turn things around, counting on you, all of you, to do what’s right. And I think deep down inside, we all know what that is.”
O’Donnell’s animosity toward Trump is nothing new, as their public feud dates back nearly two decades.
The dispute began in 2006 when the winner of the Miss USA pageant, which Trump owned at the time, was embroiled in scandal after being caught drinking, using drugs, and engaging in inappropriate behavior.
Trump allowed her to retain her crown after she issued a public apology, a move O’Donnell heavily criticized while hosting “The View.”
She mocked Trump’s personal and financial history, calling him a hypocrite.
Trump fired back by threatening legal action and making numerous public statements insulting O’Donnell’s appearance and character, calling her a “slob” with a “fat, ugly face” and “a degenerate.”
O’Donnell later reflected on the ordeal, claiming it was the worst instance of bullying she had ever experienced.
“Probably the Trump stuff was the most bullying I ever experienced in my life, including as a child,” she said during a 2014 episode of “The View.”
“It was national, and it was sanctioned societally. Whether I deserved it is up to your own interpretation.”
The long-standing animosity between the two became a focal point of Trump’s first presidential campaign.
During the 2015 Republican primary debates, then-Fox News host Megyn Kelly confronted Trump about his history of making derogatory comments about women.
“You’ve called women you don’t like ‘fat pigs,’ ‘dogs,’ ‘slobs,’ and ‘disgusting animals,’” Kelly stated.
Enjoy this throwback in honor of the big news of Rosie O’Donnell deciding to flee the United States for Ireland following the election of Donald Trump! pic.twitter.com/tuRdgN8tVn
— Backfire (@BackfireBros) March 11, 2025
“Only Rosie O’Donnell,” Trump quipped, a line that quickly went viral.
Last year, after Trump’s victory, O’Donnell erupted in fury over Time magazine naming him Person of the Year, launching into an expletive-filled tirade on TikTok.
“You equated, you normalized Trump. And that’s what Time Magazine did. Man of the year, Donald Trump. Well, f— you Time Magazine. F— you, seriously,” O’Donnell ranted.
“How about most dangerous man of the year? How about most criminal man of the year? How about the worst president we’ve ever had… of the year,” she continued.
@rosie this angry rant has curses in it – beware – 👽👽👽👽👽👽👽👽👽 #ufosightings #msm #america #theworld ♬ original sound – Rosie ODonnell
Even now, as she settles into life in Ireland, O’Donnell appears unable to leave her political obsessions behind.
She has warned that Trump’s second term will bring “no guardrails and a very corrupt Supreme Court.”
She accused Trump of planning to weaponize the Department of Justice against those he perceives as disloyal, including herself.
Looking ahead, O’Donnell urged Americans to stay vigilant and engaged in the political process.
“You have to fight for what this country’s really about, and it’s not about rich billionaires running it,” she declared.