The ongoing disagreement between comedian Rosie O’Donnell and former U.S. President Donald Trump intensified over Thanksgiving 2024, marking another moment in their longstanding dispute.
O’Donnell spent around 10 minutes on Thanksgiving Day critiquing Trump, branding him as “madman” and alleging he lacks sanity. She also expressed support for the Mexican President’s stance on border policy, arguing for the construction of “bridges” over closing the border.
The discord between O’Donnell and Trump originated in 2006. During her time as co-host of ABC’s “The View,” O’Donnell criticized Trump’s decision to allow Miss USA Tara Conner to keep her title despite claims of drug use and underage drinking. She challenged Trump’s ethical standing and business dealings, labeling him a “snake-oil salesman.” In retaliation, Trump made personal remarks, referring to O’Donnell as “disgusting” and “a slob,” and threatened to pursue legal action.
This animosity continued throughout Trump’s tenure as President. O’Donnell recently described Trump in a TikTok video as incoherent during a press conference at his Mar-a-Lago property in Palm Beach, Florida, accusing him of disseminating “just lies, lies, lies.” She has also expressed criticism of Trump’s followers. In August 2022, she argued that his supporters are “willfully blind” and called him “the worst person to ever hold that office.”
The feud drew further attention during the 2016 presidential campaign when Trump mentioned O’Donnell during both the Republican primary debate and the first presidential debate with Hillary Clinton. O’Donnell later characterized Trump’s remarks as “the worst bullying,” emphasizing its national scale.
In November 2024, O’Donnell criticized “Morning Joe” hosts Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski for their meeting with Trump at Mar-a-Lago, labeling their actions as “despicable” and pledged to stop watching the show.
During a segment on Chris Cuomo’s NewsNation show in April 2024, O’Donnell and Bill O’Reilly engaged in a heated discussion over Trump’s potential conviction, resulting in O’Donnell making a $10,000 wager that Trump would be found guilty of any charges brought against him.
After Trump’s conviction on 34 felony charges in May 2024, O’Donnell publicly celebrated the verdict, sharing several memes and expressing appreciation toward Michael Cohen for his testimony against Trump.
The ongoing conflict between O’Donnell and Trump continues to engage the public, mirroring the deep political and personal divisions that have marked their relationship over the years.