Rosie O Donnell returned to late-night television Monday, stepping in as guest host of Jimmy Kimmel Live! and using her opening monologue to poke fun at President Donald Trump — without directly naming him.
O’Donnell, a longtime critic of Trump, was widely expected to make the president a major target during her first night behind Kimmel’s desk. Instead, she focused much of her monologue on her life in Ireland and her decision to move there after Trump’s 2024 reelection.
She did make one direct reference, calling Trump “Mango Mussolini,” before sharing a story about her child, Clay, explaining the family’s move to classmates in the United States.
According to The Washington Post, O’Donnell recounted Clay’s explanation that they were “being forced to move to another country because the president hates my mother.” She then added a punchline suggesting that her own feelings toward Trump were even stronger.
O’Donnell Says Trump Was Watching
O’Donnell also appeared to address Trump directly without repeatedly saying his name.
After joking about the president’s apparent interest in her, she looked into the camera and offered a brief greeting. Near the end of her monologue, she joked that Trump was likely watching and upset that she had barely mentioned him.
The approach allowed O’Donnell to acknowledge her long-running feud with Trump while making her return to television about more than their political rivalry.
A Long History With Trump
O’Donnell and Trump have been publicly feuding for years. Their relationship became particularly contentious in the 2000s, when O’Donnell criticized Trump during her time on The View and Trump responded with personal attacks.
Trump has continued to target O’Donnell in recent years, including calling for her U.S. citizenship to be revoked. O’Donnell moved to Ireland after Trump’s reelection and has spoken publicly about her reasons for leaving the United States.
Her appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live! therefore represented a return to a familiar form of political and cultural commentary.
Filling In for Jimmy Kimmel
O’Donnell is guest-hosting the ABC late-night program while Jimmy Kimmel is away on his summer break. Kimmel has himself become a frequent target of Trump’s criticism because of his jokes and commentary about the president.
The choice of O’Donnell as a guest host was especially notable given the history between her and Trump. Kimmel previously described the decision as a special treat for the president, referring to O’Donnell as one of Trump’s longtime favorites — a reference to their well-known feud.
O’Donnell’s return also marks a notable television comeback. She hosted The Rosie O’Donnell Show from 1996 to 2002 and later became a prominent co-host of The View. She has recently returned to the spotlight through stand-up and theatrical work as well as television appearances.
More Episodes Ahead
O’Donnell is scheduled to remain behind the Jimmy Kimmel Live! desk through Thursday. The week’s guests include Jean Smart, Richard Gadd, Charlie Day, Janelle James, Megan Mullally and Nick Offerman.
While Trump remained a presence beneath the surface of her opening monologue, O’Donnell showed that she did not need to make him the centerpiece of her comeback.
Source: washingtonpost
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