Rosie O’Donnell’s move to Ireland has sparked celebrations from President Donald Trump‘s supporters.
On Tuesday, The Flintstones star revealed on TikTok that she left the U.S. in January with her 12-year-old child Clay, whom she shared with late ex-wife Michelle Rounds.
“It’s been pretty wonderful, I have to say,” O’Donnell said in the nine-minute video. “The people are so loving and so kind, so welcoming, and I’m very grateful.”
Over the years, O’Donnell has been critical about Trump’s politics and said that was the reason for her new home. The 78-year-old Republican began his second term in the White House on January 20.
“When it is safe for all citizens to have equal rights there in America, that’s when we will consider coming back,” the 62-year-old said. “It’s been heartbreaking to see what’s happening politically and hard for me personally as well. The personal is political, as we all know.” Newsweek reached out to O’Donnell’s representative via email for comment.
O’Donnell said: “I encourage everyone to stand up, to use their voice, to protest, to demand that we follow the Constitution in our country and not a king, not a man. We don’t have cruelty as part of our governing style.”
In the comments of the clip, O’Donnell replied to TikTok user @courierken who asked, “Rosie, are you intending on going back when the Orange one leaves office?”
In response to the message, which appeared to be a dig at Trump, the former talk show host said, “when r nation is righted.”
At the time of publication, O’Donnell’s video racked up more than 1.8 million views and over 179,000 likes on the social-media platform.
File photos: Main, Rosie O’Donnell performs at The Fonda Theatre on July 16, 2022 in Los Angeles, California. Inset, U.S. President Donald Trump arrives for a campaign rally at Erie International Airport on October 20,… File photos: Main, Rosie O’Donnell performs at The Fonda Theatre on July 16, 2022 in Los Angeles, California. Inset, U.S. President Donald Trump arrives for a campaign rally at Erie International Airport on October 20, 2020 in Erie, Pennsylvania. Amy Sussman/Getty Images; Jeff Swensen/Getty Images
Following news of her move, members of the MAGA community took to X, formerly Twitter, to commend O’Donnell.
“Well, she did it. I at least have to give Rosie O’Donnell credit. She moved to Ireland. She at least followed through with her word and left the country. Now waiting for all the other liberal hacks to leave like they promised,” said @TheEXECUTlONER_, a self-proclaimed “political junkie” with MAGA in their X bio. “Good riddance Rosie.”
“Thanks to Rosie O’Donnell, America became healthier overnight!” @RobertKennedyJc, who has no affiliation to Robert F. Kennedy Jr., wrote in a message. “MAHA!”
“Rosie O’Donnell claims to have moved to Ireland fulfilling her promise to leave the U.S. after Trump’s reelection. Out of all the ‘Celebrities’ vowing to leave the US she is one of the only ones to do it,” conservative X account @Ryan_In_Mi added. “Wish more of them would have left.”
Celebrities who said they would consider moving if Trump was successful in the 2024 election included Barbra Streisand, Cher and Sharon Stone.
Other social-media users, meanwhile, sent words of encouragement to the author.
“welcome home Rosie,” TikTok user @lormc_ said.
“welcome to Dublin Ireland 🇮🇪 Rosie Best of luck with your application for citizenship,” @amcron added, while podcast host @Unlearn16 posted: “I absolutely loved Ireland. I hope you find your peace there.”
O’Donnell said she is in the process of getting her Irish citizenship, thanks to her grandparents, who were from the country.
While responding to a separate TikTok user who asked, “Why did you choose Ireland?” the comedian said, “i have family here—im 100 % irish.” She shared that she has cousins in Belfast, too.
The comedian—who is also a mom to grown-up kids Parker, 29, Chelsea, 27, Blake, 25, and Vivienne, 22, with ex-wife Kelli Carpenter—said that, while she is happy in Ireland, she has experienced homesickness.
“I miss my other kids,” O’Donnell said in the video. “I miss my friends. I miss many things about life there at home, and I’m trying to find a home here in this beautiful country.”
