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Former "The View" host Rosie O'Donnell credited President Donald Trump with making her famous again Tuesday on "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" in Los Angeles, saying their decades-long feud revived her career during the second night of her four-night guest-hosting run and accusing him of reviving fascism and measles.
Addressing Trump during her opening monologue, O’Donnell sarcastically credited the president with returning her to the network television spotlight.
"I’m back in the spotlight all thanks to President Oompa J. Loompa, who is watching us this evening from inside a catering cart," O’Donnell said. "You know, I couldn’t have done it without you, sweetie. You brought me back just like you did with fascism and the measles."
Comedian Rosie O’Donnell credited President Donald Trump with making her "re-famous" while she guest-hosted "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" (Mike Marsland/Getty Images for Sky & NOW; Charly Triballeau/AFP via Getty Images)
ROSIE O'DONNELL’S RETURN TO LATE NIGHT REIGNITES DECADES-OLD FEUD WITH DONALD TRUMP
In a statement to Fox News Digital, the White House pointed to a meme Trump shared on Truth Social. The image depicted O'Donnell lying in bed, reading, washing dishes and driving, with Trump pictured in a thought bubble above her in each scene.
"She (?) is OBSESSED!" the meme said.
O'Donnell's catering-cart reference alluded to reports that Trump used an airport catering truck and Air Force One as a decoy before secretly transferring to another military aircraft while leaving a NATO summit in Turkey because of a credible Iranian threat.
Rosie O’Donnell accused Trump of bringing back "fascism and the measles" during her Tuesday opening monologue. (Paula Lobo/NBC via Getty Images)
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The monologue repeated an assertion O’Donnell made during a recent appearance on Amy Poehler’s "Good Hang" podcast, where she credited Trump’s continued criticism with raising her profile.
"I feel like recently, I’m re-famous. That’s what I feel. I told my kids, ‘Well, kids, hold on, ’cause mommy’s re-famous,’" O’Donnell said.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported 2,566 confirmed U.S. measles cases through Aug. 13, surpassing the 2,289 cases recorded during all of 2025 and 285 cases in 2024. The agency said outbreaks can spread when imported cases reach communities with low immunization levels, while national MMR vaccination coverage among kindergartners has fallen below the 95% target.
The White House responded to Fox News Digital by pointing to a Trump meme that declared O’Donnell was "OBSESSED!" (Getty Images)
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During her Monday guest-hosting debut, O’Donnell opened the show by warning viewers that she intended to continue Kimmel’s criticism of the president.
"The President hated ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live!’ when it was hosted by Jimmy Kimmel. Buckle up, people," O’Donnell said.
The Kimmel appearances returned O'Donnell to U.S. network television after she moved to Ireland with her youngest child in January 2025, five days before Trump's second inauguration. She later sought Irish citizenship while retaining her U.S. citizenship and quietly returned to America for a family visit in early 2026.
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Trump escalated their feud in July 2025 when he floated revoking O’Donnell’s U.S. citizenship.
"She is a Threat to Humanity, and should remain in the wonderful Country of Ireland, if they want her," Trump said.
The Constitution does not permit a president to strip the citizenship of an American born in the United States. O'Donnell was born in Commack, New York. Their public feud began in 2006 after O'Donnell criticized Trump's handling of a Miss USA controversy while co-hosting "The View."
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During a 2015 Republican presidential debate, Trump was asked about derogatory terms he had used to describe women.
"Only Rosie O’Donnell," Trump said.
Fox News Digital reached out to the RNC for comment, but did not immediately receive a response.
CJ Womack is an associate editor at Fox News.
CJ joined Fox News Digital's team in 2026, which highlights the vital role journalism plays in shaping politics and culture. He has years of experience analyzing and reporting on the news media.
CJ graduated from Long Beach State University in 2025 with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and a minor in Journalism.
You can send news tips to cj.womack@fox.com and follow CJ on Twitter.
