Rosie O'donnell Faces Backlash Over Trump 'PTSD Response' Claim
WHO:
TV Insider - Rosie O'Donnell, President Trump, Sophia Bush
NY Post - Rosie O'Donnell, Trump
Fox News - Rosie O'Donnell, Trump
WHAT:
TV Insider - O'Donnell speculated on President Trump's "obsession" with her during the July 17 episode of the Work in Progress With Sophia Bush podcast.
NY Post - O'Donnell claimed she triggers a "PTSD response" in Trump.
Fox News - O'Donnell stated that her shared New York roots with Trump explain their decades-long feud.
WHERE:
Fox News - New York
WHY:
TV Insider - O'Donnell theorized that their shared Long Island upbringing contributed to their feud, stating, "He grew up with girls like me: tough, probably gay, Irish girls who didn’t take s* from no stupid, rich-boy wannabe."
NY Post - O'Donnell compared her effect on Trump to that of schoolgirls who told him "you're nothing" as a child.
HOW:
TV Insider - O'Donnell described her past interactions with Trump, saying, "I would have told him to his face in third, fourth, fifth grade," indicating her long-standing criticism of him.
(UPDATED July 18, 2026 22:12 UTC)
In a recent episode of the podcast Work in Progress With Sophia Bush, Rosie O'Donnell speculated on President Trump's "obsession" with her, suggesting that their shared Long Island upbringing may have fueled their ongoing feud. O'Donnell described the dynamic by saying, "He grew up with girls like me: tough, probably gay, Irish girls who didn’t take s* from no stupid, rich-boy wannabe." She also reflected on her past interactions with Trump, asserting, "I would have told him to his face in third, fourth, fifth grade," highlighting her long-standing criticism of him.
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(UPDATED July 18, 2026 21:11 UTC)
Rosie O'Donnell has claimed that she triggers a "PTSD response" in Trump, drawing on their shared New York roots to explain their long-standing feud. She compared her impact on him to the schoolgirls who told him he was "nothing" during his childhood. This exchange has been highlighted by both the NY Post and Fox News.