Rosie O'Donnell insists Trump didn't really win the 2024 election, says ‘I think Kamala won’
WASHINGTON, DC: Rosie O'Donnell is reopening old wounds, casting doubts on the very event that ultimately prompted her to leave the United States.
The comedian and outspoken Trump critic, who moved to Ireland following the 2024 election, is now challenging the legitimacy of the results, saying she does not believe the president defeated Democratic candidate Kamala Harris.
O'Donnell says she believes the US elected 'a convicted felon'
O'Donnell said her decision to leave the United States was driven in part by disbelief that Americans had elected a "convicted felon" whom she accused of having "tried to start an insurrection."
She added that she "never in a million years thought" Trump would be returned to the White House. “How did that happen? I don't think it happened. I think Kamala won. I do," O'Donnell told former CNN host Jim Acosta on his podcast.
"Interesting," replied Acosta, who frequently clashed with Trump during his tenure as CNN's White House correspondent in the president's first term.
Before questioning whether Elon Musk influenced the election, the one-time TV personality insisted that "I think that we're going to find all this out, it's going to come out. I'm not the first person to say this. There are all these researchers who are saying it. I read it online again today."
However, O'Donnell failed to offer evidence that Trump did not actually win the election. Acosta expressed mild disbelief at Trump's win, calling it "hard to believe," but maintained that he typically trusts American democracy because he's "old-fashioned."
"I would never think that something like that can happen, so I tend to trust it," Acosta said. "But I do worry he's going to try to steal the next one."
O’Donnell says Trump will cancel the 2028 elections
The former 'The View' co-host, who has spent nearly two decades cementing her status as one of Trump's fiercest celebrity adversaries, pushed another conspiracy theory in the lengthy interview.
She predicted that Trump would "come up with some big tragedy" to cancel the 2028 presidential election so he can remain in power.
"We're going to have an event here in the United States, maybe another 'assassination attempt,' and he's going to declare that the elections are off," she said, punctuating "assassination attempt" with air quotes. This came after O’Donnell attacked UFC Freedom 250, calling it “disgraceful and embarrassing.”
The unprecedented mixed martial arts showcase, which drew more than 125,000 spectators to the South Lawn, was held on White House grounds as part of the nation's 250th birthday celebrations and Trump's milestone 80th birthday on Sunday, June 14.
Rosie O'Donnell calls Trump's UFC fans racist, homophobic, and un-American. pic.twitter.com/Q9sCMITkoE
— TMZ (@TMZ) June 15, 2026
O'Donnell also reacted to UFC fighter Josh Hokit’s controversial "Michelle Obama is a man!" shout-out, saying, “Yes, and that's exactly what Trump is, and that's exactly what his fans are – racist, homophobic, un-American.”