Irish American celebrity Rosie O'Donnell was on RTÉ's "The Late Late Show" on Friday, March 21 to speak about her recent move to Ireland, which was spurred by the re-election of Donald Trump.
O'Donnell took to TikTok on March 11 to share that she and her daughter had moved to Ireland in protest of the second Trump presidency.
The news went viral, and even prompted a question in the Oval Office when Ireland's Taoiseach Micheál Martin attended a bilateral meeting with Trump on March 12.
A reporter asked the Taoiseach: "Ireland is known for very happy, fun, loving people, great attitude ... Why in the world would you let Rosie O'Donnell move to Ireland? I think she's going to lower your happiness level."
The question appeared to catch the Taoiseach off guard.
As the Taoiseach laughed, Trump interjected in response: "That's true. Thank you. I like that question."
Trump then asked the Taoiseach: "Do you know you have Rosie O'Donnell? Do you know who she is?"
The Taoiseach said he did know who she was and the reporter admitted he was joking, but Trump continued: "You're better off not knowing."
Reporter: "Why in the world would you let Rosie O'Donnell move to Ireland?”
President @realDonaldTrump: "Do you know who she is? You're better off not knowing” pic.twitter.com/rpELpQIxdL
— Margo Martin (@MargoMartin47) March 12, 2025
On Friday night's "Late Late," O'Donnell said she arrived in Ireland on January 15 and has been "settling in great," adding that the people have been "unbelievably kind and loving and supportive."
Explaining her move to Ireland from the US, O'Donnell told host Patrick Kielty that the President of the United States "has it out" for her and has "for 20 years."
"When I told the truth about him on a program called 'The View,' where it was my job to talk about pop culture, politics, and I mentioned his bankruptices and all of the sexual assault charges and I mentioned that he was not, in fact, the businessman that everyone thinks he is because of the show 'The Apprentice' where they sold a bunch of lies to America for over ten years and half of America believed it.
"So, he was very angry, to say the least, and he hasn't let it go and he sort of uses me as a punchline whenever he feels the need."
When Kielty asked O'Donnell how she felt about her move to Ireland being brought up in the Oval Office, she replied: "Very, very surreal, I have to tell you.
"He's been doing it for two decades and I'm still not used to it every time he does.
"I felt very troubled that they put the Taoiseach in that position and didn't treat him with the respect that a leader of that kind deserves when they're visiting the White House.
"I wrote the Taoiseach with a little note, apology to his email, and got a note back that they had received it and thanked me.
"But I just wanted him to know the history and what happened and why he [Trump] seems to be out to get me in ways that are startling to most."
When asked why she decided to move during the second Trump presidency and not the first, O'Donnell referenced The Heritage Foundation's Project 2025, as well as the Trump administration's effort to "gut" all of the social programs, including the Department of Education.
"What has happened since he has taken office has been terrifying, I think, for the world and definitely for the United States of America," O'Donnell said.
When asked about Conor McGregor's St. Patrick's Day visit to the White House, O'Donnell said it was "very depressing," adding: "It seems very strange to me that the President of the United States has so many friends who are sexual abusers."
She continued: "I think it says that we're in trouble. It says that we're in trouble.
"Basically the foundation of our country is a melting pot of people all created equal and that they are to pursue life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, that's what we're promised as Americans.
"And to think that cruelty and lack of empathy is a value that is sprouted from the highest office in our country is overwhelmingly sad to me personally and it felt like way too much for me to take, as well, emotionally."
O'Donnell said her daughter told her after moving to Ireland, "Mommy, I like it here better. You can just be a normal person."
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