The ongoing conflict between comedian Rosie O’Donnell and President-elect Donald Trump escalated further during Thanksgiving 2024. This incident adds another layer to their feud which spans almost two decades.
O’Donnell spent around 10 minutes on Thanksgiving Day critiquing Trump, referring to him as a “madman” and suggesting he lacks mental stability. She also expressed support for Mexico’s president’s border policy, arguing for the construction of “bridges” instead of sealing off the border.
The dispute between O’Donnell and Trump started in 2006 when O’Donnell, then a co-host of ABC’s “The View,” criticized Trump for allowing Miss USA Tara Conner to keep her title despite accusations of drug use and underage drinking. O’Donnell questioned Trump’s ethical and business standards, calling him a “snake-oil salesman.” Trump retaliated with personal insults, referring to O’Donnell as “disgusting” and “a slob,” and threatened to sue her.
The feud continued during Trump’s presidency. Recently, O’Donnell accused Trump of rambling incoherently during a press conference at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Florida, accusing him of spreading “just lies, lies, lies.” She has also been critical of Trump’s supporters. In August 2022, she expressed that those who continue to support him are “willfully blind” and called him “the worst person to ever hold that office.”
The feud received heightened attention during the 2016 presidential campaign when Trump mentioned O’Donnell during the Republican primary debate and the first presidential debate with Hillary Clinton. O’Donnell later described Trump’s attacks as the most severe form of bullying she had encountered, stating it was “national, and it was sanctioned societally.”
In November 2024, O’Donnell critiqued “Morning Joe” co-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.
In a heated debate with Bill O’Reilly on Chris Cuomo’s NewsNation show in April 2024, O’Donnell made a $10,000 bet on Trump’s conviction on any charges brought against him.
After Trump’s conviction on 34 felony counts in May 2024, O’Donnell publicly celebrated the verdict, sharing several memes and expressing her appreciation towards Michael Cohen for testifying against Trump.
The long-lasting conflict between O’Donnell and Trump continues to draw public interest, exemplifying the deep political and personal divisions that have defined their relationship over the years.
