Rosie O'Donnell calls Trump's presidency 'an abomination' after alleged FIFA red card reversal
WASHINGTON, DC: Rosie O'Donnell delivered a scathing assessment of President Donald Trump presidency, calling his leadership "an abomination" while criticizing his alleged decision to contact FIFA over a red card issued to US soccer player Folarin Balogun ahead of the World Cup Round of 16 match against Belgium.
Speaking to Variety, O'Donnell said Trump's alleged intervention with FIFA President Gianni Infantino to have Balogun's red card rescinded represented a pattern of the president changing rules to suit himself while the public shrugs.
Rosie O'Donnell says Folarin Balogun and US coach should have refused to play
"The fact that he called up FIFA and had the penalty revoked for the American team and America was like, 'Yeah, that's good! I didn't think it was a red card anyway!' Well, you're not the freakin' ref! You don't get to decide!" she said.
O'Donnell reserved particular criticism for Balogun himself and US men's national team coach Mauricio Pochettino, saying both should have refused to accept the overturned decision rather than play on without protest.
"The fact that he did not say, 'I will not play this game,' and the fact that the coach of the American team did not say, 'This is not how we win,' and that everyone was just like, 'Well, whatever!' I was horrified," she said.
She framed the episode as part of a broader pattern.
"I'm horrified that he is able to get away with pretty much everything, and it's sickening," O'Donnell added.
Belgium went on to defeat the United States 4-1, with Belgian players performing a Trump-inspired dance celebration after scoring their fourth goal, a moment that went widely viral.
Rosie O'Donnell calls Trump's presidency 'an abomination'
"Since when does he get to make and change the rules, the goalposts, whatever metaphor you want to use, and everyone just sits by and shrugs their shoulders?" she continued.
"There's so much [corruption] that we don't even notice it."
The comedian then shared her broader thoughts on Trump's presidency, calling his leadership "the worst thing that ever happened to our country."
"This is a man who has been a failure at everything he's ever tried, and he is mediocre beyond mediocre, and the fact that he is running our nation is an abomination," she added.
According to Variety, Trump also has threatened to revoke O'Donnell's birthright citizenship.
"I will never give up my American citizenship and that's the only way it can be taken from you if you're an American citizen, no matter what the current president says."
The comedian, 64, relocated to Ireland following Trump's 2024 election victory and recently said she had sold all of her property in the United States. She said Trump has threatened to revoke her birthright citizenship, a claim she dismissed.
