Rosie O’Donnell, guest hosting NBC's "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" on August 17, 2026, reignited her long-standing feud with former President Donald Trump. During her opening monologue, O’Donnell referred to Trump as "Mango Mussolini" and stated she moved to Ireland in January 2025 due to his 2024 election victory.
O'Donnell, who served as guest host while Jimmy Kimmel was on vacation, began by acknowledging Trump's reported dislike for the show. "The President hated Jimmy Kimmel Live! when it was hosted by Jimmy Kimmel. Buckle up, people," she told the audience. She then spoke directly to Trump, saying, "Hi, I know you’re watching."
She recounted her decision to leave the United States, describing it as a move prompted by the "Project 2025" initiative and Trump's election win. O’Donnell shared a story about how her child informed classmates about their move abroad, attributing it to "the president of the United States hates my mother."
O'Donnell also touched on her new life in Ireland, describing the country as a "refuge and my salvation" and praising the kindness of its people. Amidst guest introductions, she became emotional while paying tribute to Hayden Panettiere, a former guest on "The Rosie O’Donnell Show," who died on Sunday.
Near the end of her monologue, O'Donnell quipped, "You know, right now he’s in the White House crying because I haven’t mentioned him." This remark was met with a response from Trump on Truth Social, who posted a cartoon image of O'Donnell and commented, "She (?) is obsessed!"
Curtis Houck, managing editor of NewsBusters for the Media Research Center, criticized O'Donnell's performance, calling her "painfully unfunny" and accusing her of letting politics dictate her happiness. Houck stated that O'Donnell's media appearances were an attempt to secure the attention of "the deranged left."
O'Donnell previously told Variety that she was surprised by Kimmel's offer to guest host, given their past "adversarial" relationship, but was grateful for the opportunity, viewing it as a defense of the First Amendment and the right of entertainers to speak out against the government.