Rosie O'Donnell Returns to US After Exile in Ireland

Actress reveals she secretly visited family for two weeks, says America "feels scary" now

Published on Feb. 14, 2026

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Rosie O'Donnell, the 63-year-old actress, has revealed that she recently returned to the United States for a two-week visit with her family, after moving to Ireland in 2025 following President Donald Trump's re-election. O'Donnell, who has had a long-running feud with Trump, said she wanted to "feel what it felt like" to be back in the country, and to ensure it would be safe for her and her daughter to visit over the summer. She expressed that America "feels like a very different country" to her now, citing the lack of "balance" in the news and culture compared to Ireland.

Why it matters

O'Donnell's decision to move to Ireland after Trump's victory highlighted the deep political divisions in the US, as well as the impact that the Trump presidency had on public figures who were critical of him. Her recent return and comments about the country feeling "scary" now shed light on how some Americans, particularly vocal critics of the former president, view the current state of the nation.

The details

In an interview with Chris Cuomo, O'Donnell revealed that she secretly returned to the US for two weeks to visit her family, after moving to Ireland with her teenage daughter in January 2025. She said she wanted to "make sure that it was safe" for her and her daughter to come back over the summer so they could be with family during her daughter's school break. O'Donnell also discussed how America "feels like a very different country" to her now, as she hasn't been "watching the news" or keeping up with "American culture television" while living in Ireland, where she feels there is more "balance to the news" and "balance to life."

  • O'Donnell moved to Ireland with her daughter in January 2025, just prior to President Trump's second inauguration.
  • O'Donnell recently returned to the US for a two-week visit to see her family.

The players

Rosie O'Donnell

A 63-year-old actress who moved to Ireland in 2025 after President Donald Trump's re-election, citing the country's "balance to the news" and "balance to life" compared to the US.

Donald Trump

The former President of the United States, with whom O'Donnell has had a long-running feud.

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What they’re saying

“I was recently home for two weeks and I did not really tell anyone. I just went to see my family. I wanted to see how hard it would be for me to get in and out of the country. I wanted to feel what it felt like. I wanted to hold my children again. And I hadn't been home in over a year.”

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

“I've been in a place where celebrity worship does not exist. I've been in a place where there's more balance to the news. There's more balance to life. It's not everyone trying to get more, more, more. It's a very different culture. And I felt the United States in a completely different way than I ever had before I left.”

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

“The energy that I felt while in the United States was, if I could use the most simple word I can think of, 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)

The takeaway

O'Donnell's decision to move to Ireland and her recent comments about the US feeling "scary" now highlight the lasting impact of the Trump presidency on some public figures, as well as the continued political divisions within the country. Her experience living abroad has given her a new perspective on American culture and politics.