Rosie O'Donnell Reveals Her 2007 'The View' Feud Was a 'Set Up'—And This Is the Part Most People Miss...
Comedian Rosie O'Donnell has finally lifted the veil on one of television's most talked-about clashes—her fiery 2007 confrontation with Elisabeth Hasselbeck on the daytime talk show "The View." But here’s where it gets controversial: Rosie insists the explosive argument wasn’t just a spontaneous on-air meltdown but was actually orchestrated behind the scenes.
During a recent appearance on the podcast "Ricki-Lee, Tim & Joel," the 63-year-old former talk show host shared her perspective, claiming that a producer on "The View" deliberately set the stage for the heated exchange. She pointed to the use of a split-screen during their debate as a clear sign that the producer anticipated and wanted the two to clash intensely.
"That whole moment was planned—I truly believe it was a setup," O'Donnell explained. "Our producer wasn’t the type to make split-screen decisions on the fly. This was all carefully arranged."
To give some context, the incident occurred during a May 23, 2007 episode, where Rosie and Elisabeth, a former "Survivor" contestant and known Republican voice, debated the presence of American troops in Iraq. What started as a political discussion quickly spiraled into a personal and loud confrontation lasting about ten minutes. Rosie accused Elisabeth of failing to defend her when others labeled her unpatriotic for opposing the war, while Elisabeth countered that she was actually giving Rosie a chance to explain herself.
Once friends, the two ended up trading harsh insults live on air, with accusations of cowardice flying back and forth. Just two days after the incident, ABC confirmed that Rosie had requested to leave the show. Reflecting on the fallout, Rosie said, "I bent over backwards for Elisabeth, and then she attacked me on national television about my patriotism. It felt like being on a basketball team where one teammate keeps tripping you as you try to score."
USA TODAY has reached out to representatives from "The View" and Elisabeth Hasselbeck for their comments on these revelations.
Rosie O'Donnell Is Set to Become an Irish Citizen Amid Political Turmoil in the U.S.—But Is This a Sign of Deeper Divisions?
In another candid revelation, Rosie O'Donnell has announced that she is in the process of obtaining Irish citizenship. This move comes after she decided to leave the United States, citing the increasingly difficult political environment during President Donald Trump's second term.
Earlier this year, Rosie revealed she relocated to Ireland because she found it unbearable to remain in the U.S. following Trump's 2024 election win. In a recent interview with Australia's Daily Telegraph, she described her move as a "self-imposed political exile."
"I'm applying for Irish citizenship and expect to be approved soon," she shared. "My grandparents were Irish, so I qualify. Having Irish citizenship feels especially important now, given Trump's repeated threats to revoke mine."
The White House responded to this news with a statement from spokeswoman Abigail Jackson, who said, "What great news for America!"
Rosie, a mother of five, has been outspoken about Trump's previous threats to strip her of her U.S. citizenship, despite her being a birthright citizen under the 14th Amendment. On September 3, Trump posted on Truth Social that his administration was considering revoking her citizenship, calling her "not a Great American" and "incapable of being so."
This raises a provocative question: Should political disagreements ever lead to threats against someone's citizenship? And what does Rosie's move say about the current state of political discourse in America? We’d love to hear your thoughts—do you agree with Rosie’s decision, or do you see it differently? Share your opinions below and join the conversation.
