Comedian Rosie O'Donnell has offered a new perspective on her long-standing public animosity with former President Donald Trump, suggesting that their decades-long feud stems from childhood interactions where she, as a "tough girl" from his native New York, rejected him.
O'Donnell, who recently returned to the U.S. after living in Ireland, told Variety that she believes her assertive childhood demeanor may have triggered a "PTSD response" in Trump, reminding him of perceived rejections during his youth. She theorized that she embodies the type of girls who may have told him as a child, "Shut the hell up! You're not playing with us. Get out of here, you freakin' idiot!"
She further elaborated on Sophia Bush's "Work in Progress" podcast, agreeing that Trump is “obsessed” with her. O'Donnell suggested he "grew up with girls like me – tough, probably gay Irish girls who didn’t take s— from no stupid rich boy wannabe." She believes her public confrontation with him on "The View" in 2006, where she criticized his leniency towards a Miss USA winner, solidified this perceived pattern for him, as he reportedly could not believe she had the audacity to challenge him.
The feud between O'Donnell and Trump dates back to 2006. O'Donnell, then a co-host on "The View," called Trump a "snake-oil salesman on 'Little House On The Prairie'" and stated he was not a self-made man. Trump responded by labeling O'Donnell a "real loser" and "a woman out of control."
In the years since, the two have continued to exchange public barbs. O'Donnell has previously admitted to struggling to refrain from discussing Trump. She recounted to The Washington Post an instance where she promised her therapist she would avoid posting about him for two days, a vow that failed within hours. A similar three-day commitment to her Instagram followers also proved unsuccessful.
O'Donnell's recent comments have drawn varied reactions online. Some social media users have criticized her remarks, calling her "deluded" and accusing her of being obsessed with Trump, stating he "lives rent free in her head." Others have defended O'Donnell, praising her for maintaining a strong stance and expressing gratitude for her willingness to speak out.
Fox News Digital has reached out to the White House for comment.