Rosie O'Donnell Reveals Secret U.S. Visit 1 Year After Moving to Ireland

The former talk show host says she wanted to "hold my children again" during her recent 2-week trip back home.

Published on Feb. 13, 2026

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Rosie O'Donnell has revealed that she recently took a secret 2-week trip back to the United States, one year after moving to Ireland with her 13-year-old child. O'Donnell says she wanted to "hold my children again" and check on the safety of traveling back before bringing her daughter for a summer visit. The former talk show host also shared that one of her adult sons is expecting his first child soon, which was another reason for her return. Despite her move abroad, O'Donnell says she doesn't regret leaving the U.S. at all, as she felt the "energy" there was "scary" and that "something is really wrong and no one is doing anything about it."

Why it matters

Rosie O'Donnell's decision to move to Ireland last year made headlines, as she cited her "feud" with former President Donald Trump and the changes under the current administration as a major factor. Her recent secret trip back to the U.S. provides insight into how she is navigating her new life abroad while maintaining connections to her family still living in the States.

The details

In a call to Chris Cuomo's radio show, O'Donnell revealed she recently traveled back to the U.S. for 2 weeks, though she "did not really tell anyone." She says she wanted to "feel what it felt like" to get in and out of the country, as well as "hold my children again" since it had been over a year since she was last home. O'Donnell also shared that one of her adult sons is expecting his first child soon, which was another reason for her return visit.

  • O'Donnell moved to Ireland on January 15, 2025.
  • O'Donnell's recent 2-week trip to the U.S. occurred in early February 2026.

The players

Rosie O'Donnell

A 63-year-old former talk show host who moved to Ireland in 2025 with her 13-year-old child, citing her "feud" with former President Donald Trump and changes under the current administration as reasons for her relocation.

Donald Trump

The 79-year-old former President of the United States, who had a long-standing feud with Rosie O'Donnell and said he was considering revoking her U.S. citizenship after she moved to Ireland.

Chris Cuomo

The host of the SiriusXM radio show "Cuomo Mornings" where Rosie O'Donnell called in to discuss her recent secret trip to the U.S.

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What they’re saying

“I wanted to hold my children again. And I hadn't been home in over a year. I also wanted to make sure that it was safe for me before I brought my daughter this summer, where we plan to spend the summertime off from her schooling here with my family.”

— Rosie O'Donnell (SiriusXM's Cuomo Mornings)

“I don't regret leaving at all. I think I did what I needed to do to save myself, my child and my sanity.”

— Rosie O'Donnell (SiriusXM's Cuomo Mornings)

“The energy that I felt while in the United States... it was scary. There's a feeling that something is really wrong and no one is doing anything about it.”

— Rosie O'Donnell (SiriusXM's Cuomo Mornings)

What’s next

O'Donnell plans to bring her 13-year-old daughter to the U.S. this summer to spend time with her family.

The takeaway

Rosie O'Donnell's decision to secretly visit the U.S. after over a year of living in Ireland highlights the complex emotions and challenges that can come with relocating abroad, even for those seeking a change of pace or escape from political tensions. Her comments about the "scary" energy in the U.S. suggest a continued unease with the state of the country, despite her desire to reconnect with her children and extended family.