Former President Donald Trump has sparked controversy once again by threatening to revoke the U.S. citizenship of comedian and television host Rosie O’Donnell, calling her a “threat to humanity.”
The remarks, posted on Trump’s social media platform Truth Social on July 12, were widely condemned as unconstitutional and legally baseless.
-TruthSocial.
“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,” Trump wrote. “She is a Threat to Humanity, and should remain in the wonderful Country of Ireland, if they want her. GOD BLESS AMERICA!”
O’Donnell, 63, relocated to Ireland earlier this year after Trump’s return to the presidency. In a TikTok video from March, she explained she was pursuing Irish citizenship due to her heritage and to protect her family, particularly her autistic son, amid political turmoil in the U.S.
@rosie hello all - here’s whats been going on folks - sending love ❤️- follow me on substack - link in my bio #bewell #speakkindlytoyourself #dourbest
♬ original sound - Rosie ODonnell
Legal experts swiftly denounced Trump’s threat. Steve Vladeck, a constitutional law professor at Georgetown University, described the statement as “coercive expatriation” and “patently unconstitutional.” Amanda Frost, a law professor at the University of Virginia, affirmed that “the president has no authority to take away the citizenship of a native-born U.S. citizen.”
The 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution guarantees citizenship to all persons born or naturalized in the country and forbids the government from abridging their rights.
In response, O’Donnell issued a series of strong rebuttals across social media. On Instagram, she posted a photo of Trump with disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein and criticized Trump’s leadership and values. “You want to revoke my citizenship? Go ahead and try, King Joffrey with a tangerine spray tan,” she wrote, referencing a villain from Game of Thrones.
Speaking to RTÉ Radio, O’Donnell dismissed the threat, saying she is “the latest in a long list of artists, activists and celebrities to be threatened” by Trump. Despite the escalating feud, she emphasized that her move to Ireland was motivated by a desire for safety and decency for her family. Her response has been in the highest comedic spirits, her instagram feed shows how shes been cracking jokes in the face of an adversity.
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