Rosie O'Donnell on President Trump's citizenship threat: 'I didn't take it personally'
President Trump made his comments on his Truth Social platform after the Emmy winner criticised his administration's handling of weather forecasting agencies in the wake of the Texas floods.
He described her as "a threat to humanity" who "should remain in the wonderful country of Ireland, if they want her".
after the start of the president's second term.
They have been in a public feud for 19 years, which began when the comedian and presenter criticised him on the television programme The View.
Under US law, a president cannot revoke the citizenship of an American born in the United States. O'Donnell was born in New York State.
Speaking on RTÉ Radio 1 on Sunday morning, O'Donnell said she learned of President Trump's threat when a friend contacted her on Saturday afternoon just as she was preparing to watch Wimbledon at home.
"I reacted with a little post that I jotted off in five minutes, and that's been getting a lot of attention online," she told the host.
"I am very proud to be opposed to every single thing he says and does and represents," O'Donnell continued.
"There's a long list of celebrities he's threatened, including Bruce Springsteen and Taylor Swift, Meryl Streep, Robert De Niro, Mark Ruffalo. There are activists, artists who have always spoken out in their lives and career[s]. It's part of their public persona and their essence, and he's against all of us.
"So, I didn't take it personally, but I will tell you the way that he is has emboldened people like him."
When asked what she thinks it is about her that "so gets under" President Trump's "skin", O'Donnell replied: "Well, I think it's because we grew up in the same area... I think I remind him of all the kids at school who never liked him. I'm a tough New York tomboy girl - and I think his crap never flew with me or New Yorkers."
O'Donnell, who is in the process of applying for Irish citizenship, said she moved to Ireland for "self-preservation".
"I needed to keep myself healthy and alive and mentally stable enough to raise an autistic child," she explained.
"And that's the reason I left. I left because I love the United States of America, not because I don't. I love democracy and what it stands for. I love the Constitution. I love what our founding fathers represented and made in this world as a beacon of hope and freedom for the rest of the world.
"Now, there are many problems with the United States. The fact that we think we can butt into every other country's business and change regimes. You know, we have made tremendous mistakes as a country.
"But until we own what is true about our country and ourselves, we're never going to be able to move forward - and until we own what is true about Donald Trump."
on Sunday 27 July. She then takes the show to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe from 1 to 10 August.
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