Rosie O’Donnell Slams Trump and Pays Tribute to Hayden Panettiere in ‘Kimmel’ Guest Host Debut

Rosie O’Donnell stepped in as a guest host on Jimmy Kimmel Live and seized the opportunity to deliver a sharp critique of her long-time adversary, Donald Trump.

Opening Monday night’s episode—the first of a four-night guest hosting gig—O’Donnell jokingly warned the audience, “If you thought the president hated Jimmy Kimmel Live when it was hosted by Jimmy Kimmel? Buckle up, people! Buckle up.”

During the monologue, O’Donnell explained that the political climate under Trump’s administration had prompted her to relocate abroad. “I’ve been living in Ireland for the past two years because of Mango Mussolini,” she quipped, referencing Project 2025. “I read that and said, ‘Gotta get myself out of here!’ And I decided to go to Ireland where people are driven to drink regardless of who’s running their country.”

She also humorously recounted how her child reacted to the news of their departure. O’Donnell recalled her child telling their school class, “I’m very sorry. I won’t be able to graduate sixth grade with you. I’m being forced to move to another country because the president of the United States hates my mother. But in all fairness, I believe my mother hates him more.”

The decades-long tension between Trump and O’Donnell dates back to 2006 when, as co-host of The View, she famously mocked his business bankruptcy. Although she avoided mentioning him directly by name during the monologue, she playfully stared into the camera and quipped, “Hi! I know you’re watching!” She wrapped up her monologue by adding, “Right now he’s in the White House crying because I haven’t mentioned him.”

In a somber turn later in the broadcast, O’Donnell paid a heartfelt tribute to actress Hayden Panettiere, who passed away over the weekend. She fondly remembered the actress, noting her multiple appearances on The Rosie O’Donnell Show throughout the years.

“I’m just heartbroken over the passing of Hayden Panettiere last night,” O’Donnell said emotionally. “She was on my show many times as a little girl, and I got to know her as a grown woman. And she was so brave talking about mental health before people were really ready to hear about it. My love to her family and friends, and she will be missed. Godspeed, Hayden.”

Kimmel’s summer break was announced earlier this year, with a star-studded lineup of guest hosts lined up to fill his seat. Kimmel had joked, “I hope you’re paying attention this summer because I will be taking the next two months off. This time voluntarily. But we have assembled a potent group of hosts to fill in for me, beginning with Tiffany Haddish, Colman Domingo, Ike Barinholtz, Anthony Anderson, Jelly Roll and, as a special treat for our commander-in-chief, I asked one of his all-time favorites, Rosie O’Donnell, to be here to keep the hits coming.”

Expressing her excitement online, O’Donnell wrote on Instagram in response to Kimmel’s invitation, “And I can’t wait!!!”

The late-night host has previously poked fun at O’Donnell’s long-standing political rivalry, joking last year that her feud with Trump had even outlasted his own famous, tongue-in-cheek feud with Matt Damon. “This feud with Rosie’s been going longer than me and Matt Damon now,” Kimmel quipped.

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