Ellen DeGeneres publicly supported Rosie O’Donnell on July 13, 2025, after President Donald Trump threatened to revoke the comedian’s United States citizenship. The former talk show host, who rarely comments on political matters, posted on Instagram with a simple message: “Good for you, Rosie.”
The support came one day after Trump posted on Truth Social on July 12, declaring his serious consideration of taking away O’Donnell’s citizenship. Trump characterized the 63-year-old comedian as “a Threat to Humanity” and suggested she should remain in Ireland, where she currently resides.
DeGeneres shared screenshots of both Trump’s original post and O’Donnell’s response on her Instagram page. The 67-year-old former television host, who moved to England earlier this year with her wife Portia de Rossi, tagged O’Donnell in the supportive post.
O’Donnell responded to Trump’s citizenship threat with a lengthy Instagram post on July 13, calling him “King Joffrey with a tangerine spray tan” and asserting she was everything he feared: a loud woman, a queer woman, and a mother who tells the truth. She emphasized that Trump was not hers to silence and never was.
The comedian, who moved to Ireland on January 15 with her 12-year-old child Clay, has been in the process of obtaining Irish citizenship through her Irish grandparents. O’Donnell confirmed her relocation occurred just before Trump’s inauguration in January 2025.
In her response to Trump’s threat, O’Donnell described the President as “a criminal con man sexual abusing liar out to harm our nation to serve himself” and characterized him as “a dangerous old soulless man with dementia who lacks empathy compassion and basic humanity.” She posted a photo of Trump alongside Jeffrey Epstein to accompany her statement.
The comedian explained her decision to move abroad was motivated by concerns about Trump’s second presidency. O’Donnell indicated she moved to Ireland because she felt it was a country where decency still exists and where she could build a better life for her autistic child. She stated she would consider returning to America when it is safe for all citizens to have equal rights.
Trump’s threat appears to have been triggered by O’Donnell’s recent TikTok video criticizing the Trump administration’s response to devastating floods in central Texas. The comedian blamed Trump’s budget cuts to weather-forecasting agencies for the deadly July 4 floods that occurred in the state.
DeGeneres’ public support for O’Donnell represents a notable development in their relationship, which has been strained for approximately two decades. The tension between the two comedians began in 2004 when DeGeneres told Larry King that she didn’t really know O’Donnell and they weren’t friends, despite O’Donnell considering them to be close.
In recent interviews, O’Donnell has acknowledged the complicated nature of their relationship, describing it as unresolved issues between friends and comedians rather than any romantic involvement. She expressed surprise that DeGeneres had also left the United States following Trump’s election, noting she had never known DeGeneres to make political statements.
The feud between Trump and O’Donnell spans nearly two decades, with both frequently exchanging public criticisms. Trump’s latest threat to revoke O’Donnell’s citizenship has no legal basis under current law, as Americans cannot lose their citizenship status even when obtaining citizenship elsewhere. The 14th Amendment protects citizenship rights for all people born on United States soil.
Other celebrities have also shown support for O’Donnell following Trump’s threat. Kathy Griffin commented on O’Donnell’s post, acknowledging her as “the GOAT” and noting her own secondary role in expressing disdain for Trump. Margaret Cho also expressed support with affirming comments on social media.
Both DeGeneres and O’Donnell have relocated from the United States following Trump’s election victory. DeGeneres moved to the English countryside with her wife in November 2024, while O’Donnell established residence in the Dublin suburb of Howth, Ireland. Both women have indicated their moves were influenced by the political climate under Trump’s presidency.
