Rosie O’Donnell is opening up about a heartbreaking decision: missing her daughter’s college graduation. The actress and comedian revealed on the No Filter podcast in September 2025 that she skipped Vivienne’s ceremony earlier this year because her security team strongly advised her not to return to the U.S.
Rosie said her team warned that her presence could be exploited by Donald Trump to rally his supporters. The two have had one of the longest and most public feuds in pop culture, with Trump recently threatening to strip her citizenship; a move he legally cannot make but one that still made headlines.
Instead of flying back, Rosie watched from afar while staying in Ireland, where she relocated earlier this year. “It was devastating,” she admitted, noting that she wanted nothing more than to celebrate her daughter’s milestone but couldn’t take the risk.
Rosie also hinted she won’t be returning to the U.S. anytime soon, saying she’ll only come back when she feels “all citizens are truly treated equally.”
