Rosie O'Donnell Speaks On Her 'Scary' Visit To The US: 'I Wanted To Make Sure It Was Safe For Me'

Rosie O'Donnell is reflecting on her move to Ireland and a recent quiet return to the United States.

After relocating overseas with her child earlier this year, the former "The View" host spent two weeks back home reconnecting with family and reassessing how the country feels amid ongoing political tensions.

Rosie O'Donnell admitted that the experience was emotional, eye-opening, and reaffirmed why she chose to leave.

During a February 13 appearance on "SiriusXM's Cuomo Mornings" with Chris Cuomo, O'Donnell revealed she recently spent two weeks back home in the United States without publicly announcing it.

She said the trip was deeply personal, explaining that she wanted to visit family and also gauge how it felt to reenter the country after relocating abroad.

O'Donnell also admitted she was curious about how easy it would be to travel in and out and wanted to assess whether she felt comfortable doing so.

"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," she stated, per People Magazine.

The 63-year-old comedian confirmed in March 2025 that she had moved to Ireland in January with her 13-year-old child, Clay.

At the time, she cited ongoing political tensions, including her long-standing feud with President Donald Trump, as well as broader concerns about the direction of the country as motivating factors behind her decision to leave.

Despite settling overseas, much of her family remains in the U.S. O'Donnell shared that she hadn't seen her children in over a year and felt a strong desire to reconnect.

"I wanted to hold my children again," she said. "And I hadn't been home in over a year."

O'Donnell continued, "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."

Additionally, one of her adult sons is expecting his first child, making the trip especially meaningful.

The "A League of Their Own" actress said returning to New York felt "like a very different country" after stepping away from American news and celebrity culture for a year.

She described her life in Ireland as calmer and more balanced, free from what she called the intensity of US media and fame.

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

The comedian added, "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."

Despite relocating to Ireland last year, O'Donnell found herself back in the political spotlight after Trump publicly suggested he might attempt to revoke her US citizenship.

In a July 12, 2025, social media post, Trump, 79, claimed he was "giving serious consideration" to stripping O'Donnell of her citizenship, alleging she was "not in the best interests" of the country and calling her a "Threat to Humanity."

He added that she should remain in Ireland "if they want her."

The former "The View" host quickly fired back on Instagram at the time, accusing the president of targeting her because she has long criticized him.

She wrote that he resents being "seen for who he is," and described him as "a criminal con man, sexually abusing liar out to harm our nation to serve himself."

O'Donnell reiterated that political tensions were a major factor in her decision to move abroad, saying she stands firmly opposed to what she believes he represents alongside millions of others.

O'Donnell has also shared that the political climate has deeply affected her daughter.

While speaking on "The Jim Acosta Show," she revealed her child has expressed anger toward Trump, blaming him for their move and for what she perceives as broader harm to the country.

As reported by The Blast, O'Donnell recalled her daughter emotionally declaring that "he made us move for our own safety" and is now "destroying the country."

While acknowledging how difficult it is to shield her child from political turmoil, O'Donnell said her daughter is aware of the situation and hears her conversations.