White House rebukes Rosie O’Donnell for Trump jokes on Jimmy Kimmel Live!

The White House issued a sharp rebuke against comedian Rosie O'Donnell on Friday, August 21, 2026, after she spent the week guest-hosting "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" with a series of jokes targeting President Donald Trump. The exchange marks a fresh escalation in a public feud between the two that has lasted for two decades.

O'Donnell filled in for host Jimmy Kimmel during his summer break, with her final show airing on Thursday, August 20. Throughout the week, she used her monologues to deliver pointed commentary about the president. In her opening on Monday, August 17, she referenced her move to Ireland following Trump's 2024 election victory, joking that she left because of "Mango Mussolini" and the policy blueprint Project 2025. She concluded her run on Thursday by thanking viewers, "especially the hungry, hungry hypocrite in the White House," and performed a parody of the song "Danny Boy" titled "Donny Boy," which criticized the president's policies and appearance.

A particular comment from Wednesday's show, August 19, drew a direct response from the administration. During her monologue, O'Donnell addressed Trump, saying, "You got to realize its time to hang up your wig and let...