Rosie O’Donnell Rages at Reporters Enabling ‘Madman’ Trump
Trump’s long-time rival says journalists let him “verbally rape a woman” with his “stupid person” outburst.
Rosie O’Donnell has sounded off against her sworn enemy, President Donald Trump, and those she claims are enabling his “disgraceful” behavior.
Reacting to a viral clip of the president berating a female reporter as “stupid” on Thursday, O’Donnell said that White House journalists need to push back on Trump’s personal attacks.
“A decent person would stand up in spite of their job and say, ‘I will not sit here and watch you verbally assault and attack and rape a woman,’” O’Donnell said.

Rosie O’Donnell in Melbourne, Australia, on Oct. 13, 2025.
James Wiltshire/AFL Photos/AFL Photos via Getty Images
“Open your goddamn mouths and save your souls because you’re going to have to live with yourself long after he is gone,” she added.
The 63-year-old comedian was speaking to former CNN anchor Jim Acosta on his online show, responding to the lashing Trump gave CBS News’ chief White House correspondent Nancy Cordes during a press briefing at Mar-a-Lago on Thanksgiving.
Get the best of The Beast delivered right to your inbox
By clicking “SUBSCRIBE” you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
“Are you stupid? Are you a stupid person?” Trump spat after she pushed back on his claims that Rahmanullah Lakanwal, the 29-year-old Afghan national who is suspected of shooting two National Guard members in D.C. on Wednesday, had not been vetted for entry into the United States.
It’s the third time in recent weeks that Trump has aggressively lashed out at reporters, all of whom have been female, calling them “ugly,” “stupid,” and “piggy.”
O’Donnell theorized that Trump’s aggressive attacks on female reporters is because of “a thing called dementia.”
Given this alleged illness and declining mental condition, O’Donnell argued that responsibility for Trump’s behavior really rests on the structures that prop him up. She argued that championing Trump has eroded public decency.

Rosie O’Donnell on the Jim Acosta Show.
Jim Acosta Show / YouTube
“What happened to decency?” O’Donnell asked. “What happened to someone standing next to that woman saying, ‘Did you just call her stupid? Did you just call her stupid, President of the United States?’”
“He’s a disgrace,” she said.
Acosta, who served as CNN’s chief White House correspondent from 2007 until January of this year, is famous for calling out Trump’s exaggerations.

A White House staff member reaches for the microphone held by CNN’s Jim Acosta as he questions President Donald Trump during a news conference at the White House, Nov. 7, 2018.
Jonathan Ernst/Reuters
He suggested that reporters don’t do the same because they have been instructed to endure it in order to remain in the press pack.
“Well, that is a disservice to everyone, to the soul of every person forced to eat it,” O’Donnell replied.
“You’re telling me that we have to swallow this behavior from a madman, because we can’t figure out as a nation how to right all the wrongs that have occurred?”
The former host of The Rosie O’Donnell Show has regularly clashed with Trump since a 2006 spat over a Miss USA contestant.
The president escalated their simmering conflict in July by threatening to revoke her citizenship. O’Donnell relocated to Ireland in January, just before Trump returned to the White House.
“We’re going to have to deal with him,” she added, because “this is what will continue.”
Unlock a year of full access to The Looker and The Daily Beast for $35.
Monthly
$1
First month then $5.99/month
Annual
$35
First year then $59.99/year
Premium
$79
First year then $119.99/year
*Substack access provided by the next business day, using your subscription email. Choosing the Premium plan constitutes your permission to share your subscription email with Substack and your agreement to Substack’s Privacy Policy.
Looks like you already have a subscription!
You're all set!
Thanks for subscribing.
Register below to read this article for free or subscribe
to unlock unlimited access to The Looker and The Daily Beast.
Monthly
$1
First month then $5.99/month
Annual
$35
First year then $59.99/year
Premium
$79
First year then $119.99/year
*Substack access provided by the next business day, using your subscription email. Choosing the Premium plan constitutes your permission to share your subscription email with Substack and your agreement to Substack’s Privacy Policy.
Already have an account? Sign In
Looks like you already have a subscription!
You're all set!
Thanks for subscribing.
Sign in
Login dialog


ADVERTISEMENT
Sign in or create an account
Login dialog
Loading comments…
ADVERTISEMENT