Rosie O’Donnell Returns to Late Night to Guest Host ABC Program

Rosie O’Donnell Returns to Late Night to Guest Host ABC Program

The two-decade grudge between President Donald Trump and Rosie O’Donnell returned to the national spotlight as the comedian took over hosting duties for the week while Jimmy Kimmel is away on summer vacation. O’Donnell, the former host of The Rosie O’Donnell Show, opened her debut monologue by addressing the network’s audience directly.

“The president hated ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live!’ when it was hosted by Jimmy Kimmel. Buckle up, people.”

The 64-year-old comedian acknowledged her surprise at receiving the hosting offer from Kimmel, noting their previous adversarial relationship . Despite past friction, O’Donnell expressed gratitude for the opportunity and voiced support for Kimmel’s stance on free expression.

Relocating to Ireland and Targeting the White House

Much of O’Donnell’s opening monologue centered on her departure from the United States. She relocated to Ireland in January 2025 following the 2024 election victory, seeking a more peaceful life away from domestic political friction. During her opening remarks, she referred to the president as Mango Mussolini and recounted reading Project 2025 before deciding to leave the country.

“I read that Project 2025 and said, ‘Got to get myself out of here, you know,’ and I decided to go to Ireland, a place where people are driven to drink regardless of who’s running their country.”

O’Donnell also shared an anecdote about her 13-year-old child breaking the news of the family’s international move to classmates. According to the comedian, her child told peers, I’m very sorry. I won’t be able to graduate sixth grade with you. I’m being forced to move to another country because the president of the United States hates my mother. But in all fairness, I believe my mother hates him more. Smiling directly into the camera near the end of her opening remarks, O’Donnell added, Hi, I know you’re watching.

Contrasting Late-Night Norms and Everyday Life Abroad

Media observers noted that after the initial political jabs, O’Donnell pivoted away from standard late-night political commentary. Rather than maintaining a continuous focus on Washington or breaking news, she spent significant portions of the show detailing her experiences settling into Ireland, interacting with local cab drivers, and attempting to romance a kindly pharmacist.

Political Critics and White House Response

The guest-hosting stint drew immediate pushback from conservative media critics. Curtis Houck, managing editor of NewsBusters for the Media Research Center, criticized the performance and O’Donnell’s public profile.

“Rosie O’Donnell is painfully unfunny and the personification of letting politics run your life, with whoever is in power determining your happiness. Rosie has been on a lengthy U.S. media blitz ahead of this week’s guest-hosting, and she was able to do so freely. She hasn’t been arrested and hauled off to some Trump-branded gulag.”

President Trump responded to the monologue through a post on Truth Social featuring a cartoon image of O’Donnell surrounded by thoughts of him, accompanied by the caption She (?) is obsessed! Toward the close of her program, O’Donnell delivered a final jab at the administration, telling the audience she suspected the president was currently in the White House upset because she had moved on from discussing him.