American late-night television host Jimmy Kimmel has announced a line-up of guest presenters set to take over his show, 'Jimmy Kimmel Live!', during his two-month summer hiatus. Among those named is actress and comedian Rosie O'Donnell, a figure known for her long-standing public feud with former President Donald Trump.
Kimmel, who has taken extended summer breaks since 2020 to spend more time with his family, made the announcement on his programme this week. He quipped about O'Donnell's inclusion being a 'special treat' for the former US President, referencing their well-documented animosity. The guest host period is scheduled to commence the week of July 6th.
The rivalry between O'Donnell and Trump originated in 2006 when she was a co-host on the talk show 'The View'. It escalated significantly during Trump's 2015 presidential campaign, notably during a Republican debate where Trump famously responded to a question about derogatory comments towards women by stating, 'Only Rosie O'Donnell.' Since then, both individuals have frequently exchanged public criticisms, particularly on social media platforms.
Adding another dimension to the story, O'Donnell, aged 63, relocated to Ireland in January of this year with her youngest child, Clay. She cited Trump's return to the White House as a reason for her move. In an interview on the 'No Filter' podcast, O'Donnell also mentioned that security concerns prevented her from attending her other daughter's university graduation last year, fearing Trump might use her presence to galvanise his political base.
The animosity continued late last year when Trump, 79, posted a manipulated photograph of O'Donnell online and suggested that his administration was 'giving serious thought to taking away Rosie O'Donnell’s Citizenship.' O'Donnell responded to this threat on Instagram, drawing a parallel to the character Logan Roy from the television series 'Succession' with the comment, 'Banishing me again? Logan Roy would be proud.'
This ongoing public dispute, played out across various media platforms, highlights the deeply personal and often combative nature of political discourse in the United States, even extending to the realm of entertainment.