Rosie O'Donnell's Trump tirade ends with 'orange Voldemort' as White House hits back
Rosie O'Donnel: "Thanks to everyone who's been watching this week, especially the hungry, hungry hypocrite in the White House. Kind of weird to think he spent more nights with me this week than Melania. Most of all, I'd like to thank Jimmy Kimmel for inviting me to do this and… pic.twitter.com/8U1Ul3F1om
— Reggie B. (@reggiebblue) August 21, 2026
WASHINGTON, DC: Rosie O’Donnell ended her week as guest-host of 'Jimmy Kimmel Live!' with another attack on President Donald Trump, calling him “orange Voldemort” before the White House fired back at the comedian.
O’Donnell spent four nights filling in for Jimmy Kimmel during his summer break, repeatedly turning her monologues toward Trump and their long-running public feud.
The clash escalated after O’Donnell used her final monologue to defend her right to criticize the president and mock his reaction to her return to television.
White House spokesperson Davis Ingle fired back with a sharply personal response, going after O'Donnell herself rather than addressing what she'd said about Trump.
Rosie O'Donnell ends week with Trump jab
During the Thursday, August 20, monologue, O’Donnell thanked Kimmel for allowing her to host and said the stint had reminded viewers that Americans have the right to free speech.
She then referred to Trump as “orange Voldemort,” ending another week of jokes aimed directly at the president.
The final appearance followed several days of increasingly personal references.
Rosie O'Donnell: "I'm back in the spotlight all thanks to President Ompa J. Loompa, who is watching us this evening from inside a catering cart. You know, I couldn't have done it without you, sweetie. You brought me back just like you did with fascism and the measles." pic.twitter.com/rFcgoRhpF1
— Reggie B. (@reggiebblue) August 19, 2026
Earlier in the week, O’Donnell had called Trump “President Oompa J Loompa” and “Mango Mussolini” while discussing his presidency, her decision to move to Ireland and her return to American television.
White House launches personal counterattack
The White House response came after O’Donnell also mocked Trump’s relationship with aide Natalie Harp during Wednesday’s show.
O’Donnell joked that Trump should “hang up” his wig and let Harp “tuck” him in, drawing attention to recent political commentary surrounding the aide.
The White House has defended Harp amid scrutiny over her prominent role around Trump.
Donald Trump's White House has blasted Rosie O'Donnell after she attacked him all week as host of "Jimmy Kimmel Live!"
— Variety (@Variety) August 21, 2026
“Rosie O’Donnell is a nasty woman and a total slob whose brain has been completely destroyed by Trump Derangement Syndrome.”https://t.co/UGfRIpM2uF pic.twitter.com/7cgzaI9ZyH
Ingle responded by attacking O’Donnell personally rather than addressing her criticism of Trump, describing her as a “nasty woman” and “total slob.”
The exchange brought the comedian's television comeback directly into Trump's political orbit.
Decades-old feud returns to television
O’Donnell’s latest attacks revive a feud with Trump that began in 2006, when she criticized him on The View over his handling of the Miss USA controversy.
Trump responded with personal attacks, and the two have continued trading insults for years.
O’Donnell later left the US for Ireland after Trump’s 2024 election victory, saying she would not return until she felt the country was safe for people to have equal rights.
She has since returned to the US and taken over hosting duties on 'Jimmy Kimmel Live!' during Kimmel’s summer break.
Her return has now put the old Trump-O’Donnell feud back on television, with O’Donnell using the late-night stage to repeatedly target the president, and the White House responding just as personally.
