Rosie O’Donnell has opened up about her decision to leave the US, claiming President Donald Trump has ‘had it out for her’ for the last 20 years.
Earlier this month, the iconic comedian confirmed that she had swapped life in America for Ireland on January 15, along with her 12-year-old child, who goes by Clay.
Sharing the news on TikTok, the 62-year-old raved about the ‘loving, welcoming’ reception she had been met with in her new home.
Appearing on the Late Late Show, the star – who was one of many fleeing the United States – shed light on her decision to relocate, and how she has settled into her new way of life.
‘Settling in great, the people have been unbelievably kind, loving, supportive and so different than Americans when they recognize you,’ she told host Patrick Kielty.
‘It’s so polite, so sweet and it’s so non-invasive. It’s beautiful.’
When asked about why she moved, Rosie continued: ‘The President of the United States has it out for me and has for 20 years, when I told the truth about him on a program called The View – where it was my job to talk about pop culture, politics…
‘I mentioned his bankruptcies, I mentioned all of the sexual assault charges and I mentioned that he was not, in fact, the businessman that everyone thinks he is because of the show, The Apprentice, where they sold a bunch of lies to America for over 10 years, and half of America believed it.
‘He was very angry to say the least, and he hasn’t let it go. And he uses me as a punchline whenever he feels the need.’
A clip then played of President Trump sitting down with Ireland’s Taoiseach, Micheál Martin, during his St Patrick’s Day visit to the White House last week, where the politician made a dig at Rosie’s move.
‘Very, very surreal,’ the SMILF actress said of the footage. ‘He’s been doing it for two decades and I’m still not used to it every time he does.
‘I felt very troubled that they put the Taoiseach in that position, and didn’t treat him with the respect that a leader of that kind deserves when they’re visiting The White House.
‘I wrote the Taoiseach with a little note [of] apology to his email and got a note back that they had received it, and thanked me.
‘But I just wanted him to know the history and what happened, and why he seems to be out to get me in ways that are startling to most.’
Rosie and her youngest child, Clay, made the move to Ireland at the beginning of the year – her older kids, Parker, Blake, Chelsea and Vivienne have yet to join them.
Reflecting on her new surroundings in a recent TikTok video, the star raved about the changes she had already seen personally.
‘I’m telling you, I feel healthier. I’m sleeping better without the stress and anxiety about what was happening politically in the US,’ she told viewers at the time.
She also spoke of her long-running issues with the former Apprentice host, stemming from her time hosting the View.
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‘When I told the truth about him, he went nuts,’ she added. ‘It’s been 17 or 18 years of it already and I’m sick of it.
‘I didn’t want to live with it when he was back in office. I knew it would tax me emotionally to have to do that. I’m very happy we made the decision we made.
‘I’m really hopeful the Americans who voted for him will see just how cruel he is and will do something to stop him. There has to be smarter people than me in the world who are in positions of power who can affect change.’
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