Donald Trump Considers Revoking Rosie O'Donnell's Citizenship Amid Controversy

In a recent social media post, President Donald Trump suggested that he is contemplating the revocation of actress and comedian Rosie O'Donnell's United States citizenship. This statement raises legal and constitutional questions, particularly following a Supreme Court ruling that explicitly prohibits the government from stripping citizenship from individuals born in the United States.
On July 12, 2025, Trump took to his Truth Social platform, asserting that O'Donnell, who has publicly criticized him for years, poses a "threat to humanity." He stated, "Because of the fact that Rosie O'Donnell is not in the best interests of our Great Country, I am giving serious consideration to taking away her Citizenship." This remark comes in the context of O'Donnell's recent relocation to Ireland, where she is in the process of obtaining Irish citizenship based on her family lineage.
In response to Trump's comments, O'Donnell posted a photograph on Instagram featuring Trump alongside the late financier Jeffrey Epstein, captioning it, "You are everything that is wrong with America and I'm everything you hate about what's still right with it. I'm not yours to silence. I never was."
The tension between the two dates back to Trump's rise in politics and has been characterized by a series of public exchanges. O'Donnell moved to Ireland in January 2025, citing safety concerns for American citizens and a desire for equal rights as reasons for her departure from the United States.
Legal experts have weighed in on Trump's threat, with Amanda Frost, a law professor at the University of Virginia School of Law, stating, "The fourteenth amendment of the constitution prevents the government from taking away citizenship. The president has no authority to take away the citizenship of a native-born US citizen. In short, we are a nation founded on the principle that the people choose the government; the government cannot choose the people." This sentiment echoes the Supreme Court's 1967 ruling which firmly established the protection of citizenship rights for individuals born in the U.S.
This incident is not the first time Trump has threatened to revoke citizenship; he previously directed similar threats toward his former ally, Elon Musk, who, unlike O'Donnell, was born outside the United States. The differences in their situations highlight the complexities surrounding citizenship rights and the legal limitations on presidential powers.
As the nation grapples with issues of political polarization and freedom of expression, Trump's remarks have sparked renewed debates about the implications of citizenship and the rights of public figures. Political analysts suggest that this controversy may further entrench divisions within American society, as public figures continue to engage in contentious exchanges over fundamental rights. The future of the discourse around citizenship in the U.S. remains uncertain, especially as various political factions interpret these events through their ideological lenses.
Advertisement
Tags
Advertisement