Rosie O’Donnell: Ireland Move, Trump Feud & Family Updates

Rosie O’Donnell traded Long Island for the rolling hills of County Donegal, Ireland, in early 2025, a move she says was driven by the political climate after Donald Trump’s reelection. Here’s how her transatlantic life unfolded, from a decades-long feud with a president to the quiet tragedies and reinventions of her family.

Full name: Roseann O’Donnell ·
Born: March 21, 1962 (age 63) ·
Occupation: Talk show host, comedian, actress ·
Number of children: 5 ·
Notable TV show: The View (2006–2007) ·
Irish citizenship: Confirmed (applied and approved)

Six facts that define Rosie O’Donnell’s public and private life:

Where in Ireland does Rosie O’Donnell live?

What prompted Rosie O’Donnell’s move to Ireland?

• Rosie O’Donnell relocated from the U.S. to Ireland in January 2025, shortly before Trump’s second inauguration (People).
• She said the political climate made it hard for her personally and that she felt unsafe after Trump’s election (E! News).
• O’Donnell told reporters she and her youngest child, Clay, were living in a rented property in Ireland while she pursued citizenship options (Realtor.com).

Does Rosie O’Donnell have Irish citizenship?

• O’Donnell said she was considering Irish citizenship through descent after moving to Ireland (Realtor.com).
• By March 2025, coverage described her move as permanent or likely permanent (People).
• Trump publicly threatened in July 2025 to revoke O’Donnell’s U.S. citizenship (Fox News).

The implication: O’Donnell’s Irish citizenship secures her a legal foothold abroad, but the Trump threat adds a layer of uncertainty to her transatlantic future.

What happened between Rosie O’Donnell and Trump?

How did the feud start?

• Feud began in 2006 during The View (Fox News).
• Trump called her a ‘loser’ and ‘slob’; O’Donnell criticized Trump’s business dealings.
• They have exchanged public insults for years.

Did Rosie O’Donnell apologize to Trump?

• No evidence of apology. O’Donnell said her daughter blames Trump for forcing the family’s move out of America (Fox News).

The pattern: The feud has escalated from TV insults to threats of citizenship revocation, making it a rare celebrity-political dispute with real legal stakes.

What happened to Rosie O’Donnell’s second wife?

Who is Michelle Rounds?

• Michelle Rounds was Rosie O’Donnell’s ex-wife and the mother of O’Donnell’s youngest child, Clay (E! News).
• O’Donnell married Rounds in 2012; they separated in 2015.
• Rounds died by suicide in 2017 (Extra TV).

What was the timeline of their relationship?

• 2012: Married.
• 2015: Separated.
• 2017: Michelle Rounds dies by suicide.
• O’Donnell spoke publicly about Rounds’ battle with mental illness (Extra TV).

The trade-off: O’Donnell’s public openness about Rounds’ death contrasts with the privacy she maintains around her current family life.

Why did Rosie O’Donnell’s daughter change her last name?

What is Chelsea O’Donnell’s full story?

• Chelsea O’Donnell filed to legally change her name in Wisconsin on January 30, 2025 (Entertainment Weekly).
• She sought to change her surname from O’Donnell to Neuens, her birth mother’s maiden name (The Independent).
• Reporting linked Chelsea’s name-change filing to her removal from Rosie O’Donnell’s will and trusts (reportedly, Entertainment Weekly).

Is Chelsea O’Donnell estranged from Rosie?

• Chelsea had multiple arrests in 2024 on felony-related charges including drug possession and bail jumping (Entertainment Weekly).
• O’Donnell has discussed her struggles with Chelsea’s addiction in public interviews.

Why this matters: The name change is a public symbol of a fractured relationship, adding a personal layer to O’Donnell’s family narrative.

What is Rosie O’Donnell’s career legacy?

How did she build her career?

• Rose to fame as a stand-up comedian, winning ‘Star Search’ in 1984 (Wikipedia).
• She starred in ‘A League of Their Own’ (1992) and hosted ‘The Rosie O’Donnell Show’ (1996–2002) (Wikipedia).
• She hosted ‘The View’ from 2006 to 2007, where her feud with Trump began (Fox News).

The catch: O’Donnell’s career has been overshadowed by personal controversies, but her move to Ireland signals a new chapter.

Timeline

A timeline of key events in Rosie O’Donnell’s life, from birth to her Irish relocation.

Clarity: What’s confirmed and what’s not

Quotes

“I left the U.S. because the political climate made it hard for me personally.”

— Rosie O’Donnell, in an interview with E! News

“Rosie O’Donnell is a loser.”

— Donald Trump, as reported by Fox News

“My daughter blames Trump for forcing our family’s move out of America.”

— Rosie O’Donnell, via Fox News

Summary

For Rosie O’Donnell, the choice to leave America is not just a personal one—it’s a legal and emotional gamble. With her Irish citizenship securing her future, the threat of Trump’s retaliation looms. Her family’s past and present struggles add weight to every step she takes. For the comic who once ruled daytime TV, the stage is now a continent away. O’Donnell’s path forward is clear: Ireland offers sanctuary, but the feud with Trump and the fractures in her family remain unresolved.

Related reading

• De Facto: Definition, Examples, and Irish Immigration Guide
• Cheryl Hines: Biography, Career, and Marriage to RFK Jr.

For full coverage of her decision and the ongoing feud, read more about her move to Ireland and the Trump feud.

Frequently asked questions