Trump Threatens to Revoke Rosie O’Donnell’s Citizenship

President Donald Trump escalated his ongoing feud with comedian and actress Rosie O’Donnell this week, announcing in a post on Truth Social that he is “giving serious thought” to stripping O’Donnell of her U.S. citizenship. Trump’s remarks, which echo similar threats made in recent months, have been widely condemned by legal experts and LGBTQ+ advocates as both unconstitutional and dangerous for free expression .

Rosie O’Donnell, an openly lesbian comedian and longtime LGBTQ+ advocate, has had a turbulent relationship with Trump dating back to her tenure as a co-host on The View in the mid-2000s. Their public sparring has often spilled over into social media, with Trump attacking O’Donnell’s character and patriotism and O’Donnell responding with pointed critiques of Trump’s leadership and policies .

This latest episode began when Trump wrote, “As previously mentioned, we are giving serious thought to taking away Rosie O’Donnell’s Citizenship. She is not a Great American and is, in my opinion, incapable of being so!” The message was accompanied by a digitally altered image of O’Donnell, further fueling outrage .

Legal experts and civil rights organizations were quick to point out that the U.S. Constitution does not grant the President the authority to revoke the citizenship of individuals born in the United States. The 14th Amendment guarantees citizenship to all persons born or naturalized in the U.S., including O’Donnell, who was born in Commack, New York . Experts called Trump’s threat “unenforceable” and “a violation of basic constitutional protections.”

A spokesperson for the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) stated, “The Constitution is clear: citizenship is a right, not a privilege that can be revoked on a President’s whim” .

Rosie O’Donnell has responded with characteristic wit, posting a reference to “King Joffrey with a tangerine spray tan” on her Instagram and stating, “I’m not yours to silence, I never was.” In a previous response, she likened Trump’s threats to the behavior of “a criminal con man sexual abusing liar out to harm our nation to serve himself” .

O’Donnell, who has dual U.S. and Irish citizenship, moved to Ireland earlier this year with her daughter, citing concerns over the American political climate following Trump’s reelection . She has continued her advocacy and performance work internationally, remaining a prominent voice for LGBTQ+ rights.

The incident has sparked intense debate over the use of political power to threaten dissenters, particularly those from marginalized groups. LGBTQ+ organizations, including GLAAD and the Human Rights Campaign, condemned Trump’s remarks as “dangerous rhetoric” that could incite further hostility against queer Americans and stifle free speech .

Sarah Kate Ellis, President and CEO of GLAAD, released a statement saying, “Targeting a lesbian comedian for her speech and considering unconstitutional action sets a chilling precedent for all LGBTQ+ Americans. We stand with Rosie and with anyone who is threatened for their identity or political beliefs.”

Legal scholars also noted the broader implications for civil liberties. “Even empty threats from public officials can have a silencing effect, particularly when directed at outspoken LGBTQ+ individuals,” said Professor Kenji Yoshino, a constitutional law expert at NYU School of Law .

With legal and constitutional experts united in their assessment that Trump’s threat is unenforceable, the broader concern remains the impact of such statements on public discourse and the safety of marginalized communities. Rosie O’Donnell, for her part, has vowed to continue speaking out: “I’m not going anywhere – my voice will not be silenced, and neither will the voices of LGBTQ+ Americans” .

As the story unfolds, LGBTQ+ networks and civil rights organizations are monitoring the situation closely, emphasizing the need for continued advocacy in defense of constitutional rights and against the misuse of political power.