Rosie O'Donnell returns to US after Ireland exile

Comedian had moved to Ireland with daughter after Trump's re-election in 2025

Published on Feb. 14, 2026

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After living in self-imposed political exile in Ireland for over a year following President Donald Trump's re-election in 2025, comedian Rosie O'Donnell has quietly returned to the United States. O'Donnell, who had moved to Ireland with her teenage daughter just before Trump's second inauguration, recently visited her family in the US for two weeks, wanting to assess how difficult it would be to travel back and forth.

Why it matters

O'Donnell's decision to leave the US after Trump's re-election highlighted the deep political divisions in the country, with the comedian citing the 'scary' political climate as a key reason for her move. Her return now raises questions about whether she plans to remain in the US or if this was just a temporary visit.

The details

During an interview, O'Donnell revealed that she 'wanted to make sure that it was safe' for her and her daughter to return to the US over the summer so they could be with family during her daughter's school break. O'Donnell claimed she doesn't 'regret leaving at all' and felt she did 'what I needed to do to save myself, my child and my sanity.' She also discussed how America 'feels like a very different country' to her now compared to when she lived there, citing the lack of 'celebrity worship' and more 'balance to the news' in Ireland.

  • O'Donnell moved to Ireland with her teenage 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 and comedian who moved to Ireland with her teenage daughter in 2025 after President Trump's re-election, citing the 'scary' political climate in the US.

President Donald Trump

The former US president whose re-election in 2025 prompted O'Donnell to move to Ireland, where she has been living in self-imposed exile.

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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)

What’s next

O'Donnell said she plans to return to Ireland over the summer to be with her daughter during her school break, raising questions about whether the comedian plans to remain in the US or continue living primarily in Ireland.

The takeaway

O'Donnell's decision to leave the US after Trump's re-election and her recent return highlights the deep political divisions in the country, with the comedian citing the 'scary' political climate as a key reason for her move. Her experience living in Ireland has given her a new perspective on American culture and politics.