Celebrity Follows Through on Promise to Leave America Over Trump

Sign reads "TIME TO SAY GOOD BYE" on wood.

Rosie O’Donnell follows through on her promise to leave America, relocating to Ireland with her 12-year-old non-binary child after Trump’s victory.

Quick Takes

O’Donnell moved to Ireland in January, citing political reasons and opposition to Donald Trump.
She is currently pursuing Irish citizenship through her ancestry.
The comedian states she won’t return to the US until “it is safe for all citizens to have equal rights.”
Trump supporters have celebrated her departure on social media.
Despite enjoying Ireland, she admits to missing her other children and friends in America.

Celebrity Exodus Following Trump Victory

Comedian Rosie O’Donnell has relocated to Ireland with her 12-year-old child Clay, making good on promises to leave the United States after Donald Trump’s election victory. The move, which took place in January, has been revealed through O’Donnell’s recent TikTok video that garnered over 1.8 million views. O’Donnell explained that her decision was politically motivated, specifically citing concerns about equal rights under a second Trump administration. The 62-year-old performer is one of several celebrities who had threatened to leave the country if Trump returned to office.

O’Donnell’s move comes after a longstanding feud with Donald Trump dating back to 2006, when she criticized him on “The View” and he responded by calling her a “real loser.” Throughout Trump’s presidency and the recent campaign, O’Donnell remained a vocal critic of the president on social media. Now settled in Ireland, she is in the process of obtaining Irish citizenship, citing that her grandparents were from Ireland and she is “100% Irish,” with family connections including cousins in Belfast.

A Warm Irish Welcome

Despite the political motivations behind her relocation, O’Donnell has expressed positive sentiments about her new home. In her social media posts, she highlighted the warm reception she has received from the Irish people and her appreciation for their hospitality. “It’s been pretty wonderful, I have to say. The people are so loving and so kind, so welcoming, and I’m very grateful,” O’Donnell stated. This positive experience appears to be reinforcing her decision to remain abroad for the foreseeable future.

The comedian’s move has elicited mixed reactions domestically. Many Trump supporters have celebrated her departure, viewing it as the fulfillment of a celebrity promise that rarely materializes after election cycles. Meanwhile, O’Donnell has acknowledged experiencing homesickness despite her contentment in Ireland. She misses her other children and friends who remain in the United States. Her willingness to uproot her life underscores the intensity of her political convictions and concerns about the American political climate.

Conditional Return to America

O’Donnell has established clear conditions for her potential return to the United States. She stated that she would consider coming back “when it is safe for all citizens to have equal rights there in America.” The comedian expressed that the current political situation in the US has been “heartbreaking” to witness. She has encouraged Americans to “stand up, use their voice, protest, and demand that we follow the Constitution in our country and not a king, not a man.”

O’Donnell is not alone in her international relocation considerations. Other celebrities including Barbra Streisand, Cher, and Sharon Stone had also reportedly contemplated moving abroad if Trump returned to office. However, O’Donnell appears to be among the few who have actually followed through on such statements. Despite her current stance, she has maintained that she remains hopeful for positive change in America, suggesting her relocation may not be permanent if political circumstances in the US shift to align with her values.