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Rosie O'Donnell on Trump: 'He uses me as a punchline whenever he feels the need'

Rosie O'Donnell opened up about her move to Ireland and claimed US President Donald Trump has had it our for her "for twenty years."
Rosie O'Donnell opened up about her move to Ireland and claimed US President Donald Trump has had it our for her "for twenty years."

US comedian, actress and commentator Rosie O'Donnell has opened up about her recent move to Ireland and claimed US President Donald Trump "has had it out for me and has for twenty years".

Earlier this month, O'Donnell revealed that she and her youngest child Clay, 12, had made the move across the pond following Trump's victory in the US election last November.

Speaking on Friday's Late Late Show on RTÉ One, the 63-year-old talk show host discussed her decision to apply for Irish citizenship.

"Well, there's the President of the United States that has it out for me and has for twenty years," she told host Patrick Kielty.

She continued: "When I told the truth about him on a programme called The View, where it was my job to talk about pop culture and politics, I mentioned his bankruptcies."

"I mentioned the fact that he's not the businessman everyone thinks he is," O'Donnell added.

Donald Trump welcomed Micheál Martin to the Oval Office

Recalling Mr Trump's reaction to her comments, she said, "he was very angry to say the least". She added, "he uses me as a punchline whenever he feels the need."

Rewatching a clip of remarks made about her by Mr Trump during Taoiseach Micheál Martin's recent White House visit, O'Donnell said: "It's very, very surreal. He's been doing it for two decades and I'm still not used to it every time he does."

O'Donnell also said that she "felt very troubled" that the Taoiseach was not "treated with the respect that a leader of his kind deserves" when they are visiting the White House and shared how she sent him an apology note.

"I just wanted him to know the history and what had happened and why he seems to be out to get me in ways that are startling to most," she explained.

When asked why Mr Trump's second presidency is different to his first time in office, she said:

"The biggest reason why it was different than the first time he was in office is the Supreme Court giving him ultimate power - the powers of a king or a monarch - and that's not what the United States is about and it's a terrifying prospect."

Earlier this week, The Taoiseach and Tánaiste said remarks by mixed martial arts fighter Conor McGregor at the White House, in which he was highly critical of Ireland's immigration policies, are not the views of the people of Ireland.

Discussing the fighter's visit to Washington, O'Donnell described the encounter as "very depressing".

The Late Late Show, Fridays, 9.35, RTÉ One and RTÉ Player.

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