Comedian Rosie O'Donnell's therapist has reportedly begged her to cut herself off from social media, as friends and family grow increasingly concerned over what they describe as a spiralling fixation with former US President Donald Trump. According to a detailed profile by The Washington Post, O'Donnell's attempts to abstain from posting about the Republican leader have collapsed within hours, highlighting a deep-seated obsession that now dominates her life.
The Failed Social Media Detox
The day before Thanksgiving, O'Donnell made a vow to her therapist, Jeanne Kopetic, that she would go two full days without posting anything about Trump. This pledge lasted merely a few hours. Kopetic, who has worked with the star for years, grew exasperated, urging O'Donnell to "detach" and "disconnect" from the chaos of American politics during a recent session.
O'Donnell tried again that Friday, telling her 1.2 million Instagram followers she was "gonna try again to not give him a minute of me." Yet even that farewell post referenced a Trump remark that had been gnawing at her, concerning a crude swipe the former president made at a female journalist questioning him about Jeffrey Epstein. Despite her promises, she cracked once more within hours.
A Two-Decade Feud and a Move to Ireland
The roots of this bitter public feud stretch back to 2006, when O'Donnell, then a host on The View, mocked Trump over his handling of a Miss USA pageant controversy. The animosity resurfaced prominently during the 2015 GOP presidential debate, when Trump dismissed criticism of his language about women by saying he had been "only" referring to O'Donnell.
By the time Trump won the 2024 election, O'Donnell says she felt unsafe in the United States. She decamped to Ireland with her youngest, non-binary child, Clay, in what she calls a "self-imposed exile." Her brother, Eddie, called the move "the best decision she's made." Her therapist believed the obsession was a key reason for leaving. However, as The Post noted, "when you have a phone and a fixation, it can be hard to totally disengage."
The Personal Toll and Continuing Conflict
The emotional toll of this fixation is severe. O'Donnell's longtime friends are alarmed, and she has expressed worry about how much of her political fury is absorbed by her children. She recounted on The Jim Acosta Show that her 12-year-old autistic child had begun slamming their fist on the table in rage over Trump's re-election, saying, "Damn him. Damn Trump."
Trump, for his part, has continued to use O'Donnell as a political punching bag. He has called her "not a Great American," twice threatened to revoke her US citizenship, and stated on Truth Social that she is a "Threat to Humanity." O'Donnell insists her life in Ireland has brought her peace, describing the people as "loving and so kind." Yet, the former president remains a dominating force in her headspace, with his recent joke to Ireland's leader about not knowing who she was felt as deeply disrespectful.
The cycle continues: a provocative remark from Trump triggers an immediate, compulsive response from O'Donnell online, undermining her therapy goals and worrying her inner circle. It is a pattern that shows little sign of abating, despite the physical distance of an Atlantic Ocean.
