Rosie O’Donnell, the outspoken comedian and former talk show host, has announced her departure from the United States, a decision fueled by a firestorm of controversy following her alleged attempt to publicize details from the Jeffrey Epstein dossier. Branded a “threat to humanity” by President Donald Trump in a July 12, 2025, Truth Social post, O’Donnell’s move to Ireland earlier this year has taken on new significance amid claims tying her to the explosive Epstein files. The saga, steeped in a decades-long feud with Trump, has reignited debates about free speech, citizenship, and the secrecy surrounding Epstein’s notorious client list. While O’Donnell’s actions have drawn both condemnation and support, the lack of concrete evidence about her involvement with the dossier leaves many questions unanswered.
The controversy began when Trump, in a now-infamous Truth Social post, declared he was “giving serious consideration” to revoking O’Donnell’s U.S. citizenship, calling her a “threat to humanity” and suggesting she remain in Ireland. O’Donnell, who relocated to Ireland with her 12-year-old son shortly before Trump’s second inauguration in January 2025, responded fiercely on Instagram. She posted a photo of Trump with Epstein, captioning it, “Hey Donald – you’re rattled again? 18 years later and I still live rent-free in that collapsing brain of yours.” She described herself as “everything you fear: a loud woman, a queer woman, a mother who tells the truth,” and defiantly challenged Trump’s threat, likening him to the tyrannical King Joffrey from Game of Thrones. Her response, laced with references to Trump’s past association with Epstein, amplified speculation about her knowledge of the dossier’s contents.
O’Donnell’s alleged attempt to reveal details from the Epstein dossier has fueled rampant speculation, though no verified evidence confirms her access to such documents. The Epstein case, long a lightning rod for controversy, involves a purported “client list” of high-profile individuals linked to the disgraced financier, who died in 2019. Public interest in the files has surged, with figures like Elon Musk and Mike Pence calling for their release, while Trump’s administration has faced criticism for claiming no such list exists. O’Donnell’s posts, including a collage featuring Trump with Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell, have been interpreted by some as an attempt to expose sensitive information, though she has not publicly disclosed specific names from the dossier. Her critics, including Trump supporters, argue her actions are a publicity stunt, while supporters see her as a whistleblower challenging powerful elites.
Legal experts have dismissed Trump’s threat to strip O’Donnell’s citizenship as unconstitutional, citing the 14th Amendment and a 1967 Supreme Court ruling that protects native-born citizens from coercive expatriation. Steve Vladeck, a Georgetown Law professor, called the threat “patently unconstitutional,” emphasizing that no president can unilaterally revoke citizenship. O’Donnell, born in New York, has vowed never to renounce her citizenship, stating in a TikTok video, “I’m safe here in Ireland. I’m out of the reach of the tangerine Mussolini.” Her move to Ireland, prompted by Trump’s 2024 reelection and her reading of Project 2025, was framed as a stand against a presidency she views as dangerous. She has expressed heartbreak over America’s political climate but remains steadfast in her criticism, declaring, “I stand in direct opposition to all he represents.”
The Epstein dossier controversy has also sparked broader discussions about transparency and accountability. O’Donnell’s posts have drawn attention to Trump’s past ties to Epstein, including a 2002 interview where Trump called him “a lot of fun to be with.” While Trump distanced himself from Epstein after his 2019 arrest, the lack of clarity around the dossier has fueled conspiracy theories. Some, like Joy Behar, speculate that Trump’s attack on O’Donnell is a distraction from the Epstein files, a theory echoed on platforms like X. Regardless, O’Donnell’s decision to leave the U.S. underscores her resolve to live authentically, as she continues to advocate for equality and truth from abroad, undeterred by threats or public backlash.
