Trump's Fiery Feud with Rosie O'Donnell Escalates with Unprecedented Threat to Revoke Citizenship
In a startling escalation of a nearly two-decade-long feud, President Donald Trump has threatened to strip comedian and broadcaster Rosie O'Donnell of her U.S. citizenship, labeling her "too fat and a threat to humanity." The unprecedented comment, posted on his Truth Social platform, has ignited a firestorm of controversy and legal debate.
The scathing attack from Trump declared, "Because Rosie O'Donnell is not serving the interests of our great country, I am seriously considering stripping her citizenship." He added, "She is a threat to humanity and should remain in wonderful Ireland, if they so choose. God bless America!"
This latest salvo in their public war of words comes after O'Donnell, a vocal critic of Trump, moved to Ireland. She has cited her strong opposition to the former president and his political agenda as the primary reason for her relocation. From her new home, O'Donnell has continued to lambast Trump, branding him a "criminal," a "con," and a "liar and sexual predator" on social media.
The feud between the two personalities is not new, dating back to 2006 when O'Donnell was a host on "The View." She criticized Trump's handling of a controversy involving the then-Miss USA, Tara Conner, calling him a "snake oil salesman." Trump's response was swift and personal, attacking O'Donnell's appearance by calling her "very fat" and an "out of control woman," and threatening legal action.
Over the years, the animosity has only deepened. O'Donnell has been a consistent and fierce critic of Trump's presidency and political ambitions. In a recent social media post, she defiantly told her followers she would consider returning to the U.S. only "when it's safe for all citizens in America to enjoy equal rights."
In response to the threat against her citizenship, O'Donnell has remained defiant, stating she is "sleeping better" in a "welcoming" and "loving" community in Ireland.
Legal experts have overwhelmingly dismissed Trump's threat as baseless and unconstitutional. Under U.S. law, a president does not have the authority to unilaterally revoke the citizenship of a natural-born citizen. The act of stripping citizenship is a complex legal process that cannot be enacted through a social media decree.
Despite the legal impossibility, Trump's statement marks a significant and alarming rhetorical escalation in his targeting of political opponents. The administration has previously sought to revoke the green cards of foreign-born students and activists critical of its policies, framing them as a threat to the nation. This latest incident involving a natural-born citizen, however, ventures into new and constitutionally fraught territory.
In a past interview, Trump summarized his feelings towards the broadcaster in stark terms: "Rosie is an unattractive person, inside and out... She's an absolute disaster." This long-standing personal animosity now finds itself at the center of a debate on presidential power and the rights of American citizens.