Trump threatens to strip celebrity critic of citizenship
The US president has clashed with longtime foe, actress, and comedian Rosie O’Donnell
US President Donald Trump has threatened to “take away” talk show host, actress, and comedian Rosie O’Donnell’s citizenship after she criticized his administration’s handling of the deadly floods in Texas.
The authorities have come under mounting scrutiny over their response to the July 4 disaster, which has left at least 129 people dead, including children, with 166 still missing. Officials have faced questions over the timing of ‘code red’ alerts and whether they acted swiftly enough to warn residents. Trump has defended the federal response, insisting that his agencies “did an incredible job under the circumstances.”
In a TikTok video posted last Sunday, O’Donnell, who was born in the state of New York, blamed the rising death toll on what she called Trump’s “horrible decisions,” alleging that his administration has weakened the government’s ability to protect the public.
“What a horror story in Texas,” O’Donnell said. “And you know, when the president guts all the early warning systems and the weather forecasting abilities of the government, these are the results that we’re gonna start to see on a daily basis.”
Trump responded on Saturday with a post on Truth Social, suggesting that O’Donnell should stay in Ireland, where she moved earlier this year after the start of his second term.
“Because of the fact that Rosie O’Donnell is not in the best interests of our Great Country, I am giving serious consideration to taking away her Citizenship,” he wrote. “She is a Threat to Humanity, and should remain in the wonderful Country of Ireland, if they want her. GOD BLESS AMERICA!”
The US Supreme Court has ruled that citizenship granted by birth cannot be revoked by presidential decree.
Trump’s feud with O’Donnell dates back to the mid-2000s, when the comedian mocked him during TV appearances and labeled him a “snake oil salesman.” Trump retaliated with personal insults, calling her “a very unattractive person” and “a mentally sick woman.”
Over the years, the two have continued to trade barbs in media interviews and online. More recently, O’Donnell has criticized Trump’s tax policies and described his government as “a horror show.”
Trump has made similar threats in the past, including against South African-born tech billionaire Elon Musk, suggesting that his residency status could be revoked.
