Comedian and actress Rosie O’Donnell has attributed responsibility to President Donald Trump for the deadly flash floods that impacted central Texas on July 4, 2025. She accused the administration’s reductions in weather services of contributing to the disaster, which resulted in at least 109 fatalities, with many individuals still unaccounted for.
In a TikTok video released on Sunday, July 6, O’Donnell, who relocated to Dublin, Ireland, earlier this year after Trump’s reelection, criticized the president’s policies. She remarked that removing early warning systems and weather forecasting capabilities leads to consequences observed on a daily basis.
O’Donnell, who has had a longstanding dispute with Trump since 2006, continued her critique by stating that Trump’s decisions and what she described as an “immoral bill” have endangered the country. She said, “As Republicans cheered, people will die as a result, and they’ve started already.”
She concluded her video by expressing her disapproval of Trump and the GOP. Her comments followed catastrophic flooding in central Texas, triggered by heavy rains that caused the Guadalupe River to rise approximately 26 feet within 45 minutes.
The floodwaters damaged roads and destroyed property across six counties. Among the lives lost, 27 children from Camp Mystic, a Christian summer camp in Hunt, Texas, were included.
O’Donnell’s accusations focus on staffing reductions by the Department of Government Efficiency earlier in the year. The department cut hundreds of positions at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the National Weather Service to reduce government spending. Approximately 600 staff members were reportedly let go from the National Weather Service.
Texas Emergency Management Chief W. Nim Kidd addressed the forecasting discrepancies during a press conference on Friday, explaining that the National Weather Service initially predicted three to six inches of rain in the Concho Valley and four to eight inches in the Hill Country. However, actual rainfall exceeded these forecasts.
President Trump has denied that previous budget cuts to emergency services influenced the flooding or the ability to warn residents. Speaking from New Jersey on Sunday, Trump described the flooding as a “100-year catastrophe” and suggested it was a setup from the Biden administration, though he stated he would not blame Biden for the disaster.
In response to the flooding, Trump issued a Major Disaster Declaration for Kerr County, Texas, to ensure resources were available for first responders. This declaration activated the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s involvement in the affected regions.
Trump announced plans to visit the impacted areas on Friday, explaining he wanted to avoid interfering with disaster response efforts. He initially considered an earlier visit but decided against it to allow rescue operations to continue unhindered.
Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem has recently addressed the weather monitoring issues, promising improvements to the systems. However, when asked about rehiring meteorologists who lost their jobs, Trump indicated this was unlikely.
The president also mentioned plans to phase out FEMA after hurricane season, aiming to transition disaster response to a state-level responsibility. He suggested that state governors should handle disaster management independently.
O’Donnell’s remarks are part of her ongoing conflict with Trump, which has repeatedly surfaced in the political arena. Her comments have drawn backlash from conservative commentators, some accusing her of Trump Derangement Syndrome.
The flooding has sparked wider discussions on weather forecasting and emergency preparedness. With more rain anticipated, officials have advised residents in Hunt, Kerr County, to seek higher ground to avoid further flooding.
