Actress and comedian Rosie O’Donnell departed the United States for Ireland shortly before President Donald Trump’s inauguration in January, taking her teenage daughter with her. After more than a year abroad, she has now returned briefly to determine whether conditions in America warrant a more permanent homecoming.
O’Donnell disclosed details of her recent two-week visit during an interview on a podcast, explaining that she kept the trip quiet while assessing the current state of the nation. “I was recently home for two weeks, and I did not really tell anyone,” she stated. “I just went to see my family. I wanted to see how hard it would be for me to get in and out of the country. I wanted to feel what it felt like. I wanted to hold my children again.”
The comedian acknowledged that despite her extended absence and vocal criticisms of the Trump administration, she continues to regard America as her home. She indicated that part of her visit involved determining whether it would be safe to bring her daughter back to the United States for the summer months when school is not in session.
During her time away, O’Donnell has remained engaged with American political discourse, posting commentary through social media platforms. Her observations upon returning suggest she found a nation markedly changed from the one she left, though her interpretation of those changes differs considerably from statistical realities.
“I felt the United States in a completely different way than I ever had before I left,” O’Donnell said, describing the atmosphere as “scary.” She contrasted her experience in Ireland, where she claims celebrity culture holds less prominence and news coverage maintains greater balance, with what she encountered during her American visit.
The facts on the ground, however, paint a different picture. Crime rates have declined in numerous major cities. Employment figures continue to show strength. The Trump administration has pursued an aggressive deportation policy targeting individuals in the country illegally who have committed criminal offenses, a measure that has generated both support and controversy.
O’Donnell’s concerns about safety appear disconnected from these measurable improvements in public security and economic indicators. Her characterization of the United States as a frightening place stands in stark contrast to the reality that millions of people worldwide continue to seek entry into this country, many through illegal means, precisely because they view America as offering opportunities and security unavailable in their home nations.
The comedian claimed during her interview that she has avoided watching American news or cultural programming while residing in Ireland, though her continued social media activity regarding American politics suggests otherwise.
As O’Donnell contemplates whether to return with her daughter for an extended summer visit, the nation she left behind has indeed changed. The Trump administration has implemented significant policy shifts in immigration enforcement, regulatory reform, and foreign policy. Whether these changes constitute the threatening environment O’Donnell describes, or rather represent a restoration of order and security, remains a matter of perspective shaped largely by one’s political viewpoint.
What remains clear is that O’Donnell’s year-long self-imposed exile has not diminished her interest in American affairs, nor has it altered her fundamental assessment of the current administration.
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