Rosie O’Donnell took fresh aim at Donald Trump during the final night of her “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” guest-hosting stint, as she capped the episode with a mocking song urging the president to resign.
O’Donnell’s feud with Trump had already defined the week from the outset, with the comedian having already made him a major part of her debut monologue on Monday.
Rosie O’Donnell ended her four-night guest-hosting run on “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” by turning her long-running feud with Donald Trump into a musical sendoff.
The comedian opened Thursday’s show by introducing herself as “nasty Rosie O’Donnell,” a nod to an insult Trump has previously used against her. She later joked that he had “spent more nights with me this week than Melania” and dubbed him “orange Voldemort” while defending free speech.
O’Donnell saved her biggest swipe for the end of her monologue, however, performing a Trump-themed version of the Irish standard “Danny Boy.” The 64-year-old took aim at everything from Trump’s poll numbers and appearance to inflation and his handling of Iran. She also worked Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and the return of measles into the biting number.
O’Donnell ultimately used Trump’s own political slogan against him as she urged him to leave the White House. “Since we all know you’ll never be Obama, why not resign and make this country great again?” she sang.
O’Donnell Had Also Kicked Off Her ‘Kimmel’ Stint With Trump
O’Donnell wrapped up her short stint on “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” in the same exact manner she had kickstarted it. During her first night behind Kimmel’s desk on Monday, she initially avoided saying Trump’s name, instead referring to him as “Mango Mussolini” and telling viewers to “buckle up.”
She also got personal while discussing her move to Ireland with her youngest child, Clay, in January 2025, as previously reported by The Blast. O’Donnell said she left after reading “Project 2025” and becoming concerned about the political climate following the presidential election.
According to the former “The View” moderator, she had asked Clay not to reveal why they were moving. Her child had other ideas. O’Donnell recalled Clay telling the entire class they were leaving because the president “hates my mother.” She joked that the feeling was more than mutual.
Rosie O’Donnell Reveals ‘Adversarial’ History With Jimmy Kimmel
3O’Donnell’s turn in Kimmel’s chair came despite a relationship she once considered “adversarial.” Before her guest-hosting stint, she told Variety that the duo had never even spoken on the phone. They had exchanged a few texts and crossed paths socially, but she believed Kimmel was “never a fan” of hers.
“I was like, ‘OK, one of the bro guys,’” she recalled of their old dynamic. However, things began to shift following the death of Kimmel’s uncle, Frank Potenza. O’Donnell said she reached out to the late-night host at the time, and he responded.
Even so, the invitation to host his show caught her off guard. O’Donnell pointed out that she had never previously appeared on “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” as a guest. When her publicist presented the opportunity, she initially wanted confirmation that the offer was genuine and Kimmel actually wanted her there.
Once reassured, there was no hesitation. “I most certainly will,” O’Donnell recalled responding, adding that she was both surprised and grateful for the opportunity.
O’Donnell Originally Left America Following Trump’s Return To Office
3O’Donnell’s move to Ireland first became public in March 2025, when she revealed that she had quietly relocated two months earlier. In a TikTok video, the comedian said she moved on January 15 with her youngest child, Clay, and their autism service dog, Kuma. Her four older children remained in the United States.
O’Donnell admitted she had never imagined herself leaving the country, but ultimately decided it was the right choice for her family. “It’s been heartbreaking to see what’s happening politically and hard for me personally, as well,” she explained.
While settling into her new surroundings, O’Donnell spoke warmly about Ireland and the reception she had received there. She described the people as “loving,” “kind” and “welcoming.” Still, the move came with sacrifices. O’Donnell acknowledged missing her older children, friends and the community she had left behind.
At the time, she also placed a clear condition on any permanent return to America. “When it is safe for all citizens to have equal rights there in America, that’s when we will consider coming back,” she said.
Rosie O’Donnell Makes Her Feelings About America Clear
3O’Donnell has also been candid about how life outside the United States has changed for her. Speaking to Variety in July, the Long Island native contrasted her experience in Ireland with life back home. She praised the country’s sense of community and said its culture felt far less consumed by celebrity.
Her time abroad has not severed her connection to the United States, however. O’Donnell returned to New York this summer to stage 12 performances of her one-woman show, “Common Knowledge,” at the Daryl Roth Theatre.
And despite her decision to build a life in Ireland, she made clear that she still considers herself firmly American. “I am and always will be,” O’Donnell said of her U.S. citizenship.
The actress revealed that she is also pursuing Irish citizenship through her grandparents, who were born there. But she insisted becoming a dual citizen would not change her relationship with America. “I will never give up my American citizenship,” O’Donnell declared.
