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Rosie O’Donnell, the actress and comedian, spoke about her recent relocation to Ireland amid political concerns in the United States, specifically regarding Donald Trump. In a video call, O’Donnell, casually dressed, discussed her move and her forthcoming documentary, “Unleashing Hope,” which highlights the positive impact of service dogs for autism.
O’Donnell’s Irish Sojourn and Political Motivations
From Dublin, where she has resided since mid-January, O’Donnell explained her decision to leave the U.S. was influenced by the political climate. She recounted numerous celebrities previously suggesting they would move abroad if Donald Trump were elected president. Unlike many, O’Donnell followed through.
“I never believed he would win again,” O’Donnell stated, referencing past election coverage. “But I affirmed, ‘If he does, I’m going to move,’ and my therapist supported devising a concrete plan.”
O’Donnell expressed some hesitancy about discussing her current situation publicly. Her application for Irish citizenship is still pending, creating uncertainty about her long-term residency. Currently, she and her youngest child, Clay, are in Ireland as visitors.
Spotlight on “Unleashing Hope” Documentary
Despite citizenship considerations, O’Donnell is actively promoting her documentary, “Unleashing Hope: The Power of Service Dogs for Autism.” The film chronicles a program where incarcerated individuals train service dogs, which are subsequently placed with families of autistic children, including O’Donnell’s.
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She recently appeared on “The Late Late Show,” Ireland’s version of a late-night talk show, discussing her new life and making critical remarks about Donald Trump, suggesting her extended stay in Ireland. However, her primary focus remains the documentary, inspired, in part, by her unexpected connection with Lyle Menendez.
The Unlikely Bond with Lyle Menendez
O’Donnell’s public disagreements with Donald Trump date back to 2006 during her time on “The View.” Her on-air criticism of Trump’s perceived positive media coverage led to a significant public feud. Trump responded with personal attacks and claimed Barbara Walters regretted hiring O’Donnell.
Despite high ratings, O’Donnell departed “The View” the following year. Her conflict with Trump persisted, becoming tabloid fodder, which she suspected was fueled by Trump and his former lawyer, Michael Cohen. Cohen later served time in prison for various financial crimes.
While incarcerated, Michael Cohen reported receiving a letter from O’Donnell. He described it as surprisingly “heartwarming and compassionate.” O’Donnell subsequently visited Cohen in prison and maintained contact leading up to Trump’s conviction on business record falsification charges.
A Pattern of Compassion
This seemingly unusual connection with Cohen is characteristic of O’Donnell, known for her empathy towards controversial figures.
Her circle of acquaintances includes Lynndie England, involved in the Abu Ghraib prison controversy. O’Donnell reached out to England during her trial, believing she was unjustly made a scapegoat for broader issues related to the Iraq War.
She also connected with Reality Winner, who leaked classified documents concerning Russian interference in the 2016 election. O’Donnell contacted Winner’s mother and later featured Winner on her podcast.
However, her relationship with Lyle Menendez is perhaps the most unexpected. Menendez, along with his brother Erik, is serving a life sentence for the murder of their parents in 1989.
During the Menendez brothers’ trial in 1996, O’Donnell publicly stated her belief that they were victims of childhood abuse and that the murders were, in some sense, an act of self-defense.
Shortly after, she received a letter from Lyle Menendez expressing gratitude for her support and suggesting she understood his situation on a personal level. O’Donnell affirmed this, acknowledging her own experience of childhood abuse.
Developing a Connection with Menendez
Despite the initial letter, O’Donnell did not immediately pursue contact with Menendez.
“At that juncture, I had not explored this aspect of my family history or personal therapy,” she explained.
In 2022, after viewing a documentary about the Menendez brothers, O’Donnell discussed their case on social media, reiterating her belief that they were trauma survivors acting out of desperation.
Subsequently, Lyle Menendez’s wife contacted O’Donnell, initiating contact between them. Their first conversation reportedly lasted for several hours.
“He began calling me regularly from the prison tablet phone,” she recounted. “He shared details about his life and prison experiences. For the first time, I felt secure enough to trust, be vulnerable, and care for a straight man.”
Some friends voiced concerns regarding this unusual friendship. “They questioned, ‘Rosie, he is a murderer,'” she recalled.
Nevertheless, she visited him in prison, where she observed numerous inmates accompanied by service dogs in training.
Service Dogs Program and Documentary Inspiration
O’Donnell inquired about the legality of the dog program, and Menendez explained it was designed to train and place dogs with individuals with disabilities, including blind veterans and children with autism. He proposed O’Donnell consider getting a service dog for Clay through this initiative.
Initially hesitant, O’Donnell was concerned about potentially taking priority over someone with greater need. However, Menendez assured her the dogs were allocated based on individual requirements.
A year later, her application was approved. O’Donnell spent two weeks at the prison, bonding with Kuma, a Labrador mix trained by an inmate. Kuma quickly formed a bond with Clay upon arriving home.
“I immediately observed a positive change in Clay,” O’Donnell noted. “I was amazed to witness firsthand the transformative impact reported by other mothers of autistic children.”
Inspired by this experience, O’Donnell decided to create a short documentary about the program. The result, “Unleashing Hope,” produced by Hilary Estey McLoughlin and Terrence Noonan, is scheduled for release on Hulu on April 22.
Life Adjustment in Ireland and Lingering Political Concerns
During the documentary’s production, O’Donnell became aware of Project 2025, a conservative agenda for a potential second Trump presidential term. She took seriously Trump’s remarks about being a “dictator on Day 1” and believed Project 2025 reflected his genuine intentions.
“Global tragedies have always deeply affected me,” she explained. “I believe it stems from watching the Vietnam War news as a child and witnessing graphic horrors during dinner.”
She described the first Trump presidency as emotionally draining.
“I gained considerable weight and drank excessively,” she admitted. “But there were some moderating influences.”
In the lead-up to the election, she made contingency plans.
“I renewed my passport and Clay’s. My brother and cousins also secured passports. Although, I was never much of a traveler before,” she said.
Moving to Ireland felt unconventional yet surprisingly agreeable.
Embracing Irish Identity
“I see reflections of myself and my Irish heritage here. Being Irish Catholic was central to my identity, and returning to Ireland feels like coming home in a profound way,” O’Donnell reflected.
She finds the Irish people exceptionally welcoming, with public interactions noticeably different from those in the United States.
However, a tense moment occurred when Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin met with Donald Trump at the White House. A reporter questioned Martin about allowing O’Donnell to reside in Ireland, suggesting she would “bring unhappiness.”
While Prime Minister Martin appeared uncomfortable, Trump interjected, praising the question and proceeding to personally criticize O’Donnell.
Subsequently, O’Donnell sent a letter to Martin expressing embarrassment for becoming a point of contention during a formal meeting. She has not yet received a response.
This incident represents another episode in her long-standing feud with Donald Trump. Despite her ability to connect with controversial individuals, when questioned about finding any positive qualities in Trump, O’Donnell unequivocally stated, “None.”