Sachin Shankar Yadav 
The Most Recent Development in a Prolonged Argument
In a social media post, President Donald Trump threatened to revoke Rosie O’Donnell’s U.S. citizenship, rekindling their decades-long feud. O’Donnell recently moved to Ireland with her child, and Trump called her a “threat to humanity” and advised her to stay there.
“Because of the fact that Rosie O’Donnell is not in the best interests of our Great Country, I am giving serious consideration to taking away her Citizenship. She is a Threat to Humanity, and should remain in the wonderful Country of Ireland, if they want her. “GOD BLESS AMERICA!”
— President Trump on Truth Social
What Caused the Most Recent Attack?
The president’s comments followed O’Donnell’s criticism of his administration’s handling of the devastating floods in Texas that killed more than 100 people. O’Donnell claimed in a TikTok video that the government’s poor disaster forecasting and response was caused by Trump’s budget cuts to scientific and environmental organizations.
“What a horror story in Texas. And you know, when the president guts all the early warning systems and the weather forecast abilities of the government, these are the results that we’re gonna start to see on a daily basis.”
— Rosie O’Donnell
O’Donnell, who relocated to Ireland earlier this year, has expressed openly her disenchantment with American politics and her worries for her family’s welfare.
Can a President Deprive Someone of Their Citizenship?
Despite Trump’s threats, legal experts point out that a president cannot take away a person’s U.S. citizenship. The Supreme Court’s rulings and the U.S. Constitution make it abundantly evident that the executive branch cannot unilaterally deny citizenship.
- Since Rosie O’Donnell was born in New York, her citizenship cannot be revoked by a presidential decree in the United States.
- A U.S. citizen can only lose their citizenship voluntarily or if they obtained it fraudulently, neither of which is the case in this case.
Democrats Grab the Opportunity
Democrats now have another opportunity to attack Trump’s administration’s stance on civil liberties and dissent because of his threat. Many believe that the incident exemplifies Trump’s readiness to target political rivals and suppress criticism by abusing his official authority.
Important Things for Democrats to Know:
Attack on Free Speech: The threat is perceived as an assault on the freedom of expression and the right to dissent.
Using citizenship as a weapon: Democrats contend that threatening to take away citizenship in response to criticism creates a risky precedent.
Distraction from Policy Failures: According to some, the action is meant to divert attention away from current issues, such as the administration’s handling of recent natural disasters and other political scandals.
Rosie O’Donnell’s Response
On social media, O’Donnell reaffirmed her opposition to Trump’s administration and referred to him as a “criminal con man” and a “disgrace.” She stressed that she moved because she wanted to protect her family and get away from what she said was a more hostile political environment.
The Broader Context
This incident is the most recent in nearly two decades of public conflicts between Trump and O’Donnell. Their conflict has frequently been portrayed in the media, with Trump launching personal attacks in response to O’Donnell’s critiques of his policies and character.
Conclusion
Although legally baseless, Trump’s threat to revoke Rosie O’Donnell’s citizenship has political significance. It highlights the stark differences in American politics and gives Democrats new grounds to attack the president’s adherence to civil liberties and constitutional principles.