Rosie O'Donnell reveals why she secretly returned to U.S. amid Trump citizenship threats

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Key points

• Rosie O'Donnell said she recently returned to the U.S. for two weeks after she moved to Ireland last year to avoid Donald Trump's second presidency.

• The comedian said she visited her family and also wanted "to see how hard it would be for me to get in and out of the country."

• O'Donnell added that she wanted to "see if it was safe for me" after Trump threatened to revoke her citizenship after she left the U.S.

Rosie O'Donnellleft the U.S. last year in the wake ofDonald Trump's second election — but she recently visited for a vibe check.

The comedian, who moved to Ireland in January 2025, revealed why she returned after a year abroad.

"I was recently home for two weeks, and I did not really tell anyone," O'Donnellsaid in a new interview with Chris Cuomoon the SiriusXM showCuomo Mornings. "I just went to see my family. I wanted to see how hard it would be for me to get in and out of the country. I wanted to feel what it felt like. I wanted to hold my children again. And I hadn't been home in over a year."

O'Donnellpreviously explained whyshe relocated to Ireland. "It's been heartbreaking to see what's happening politically and hard for me personally as well," she said, adding that she would consider moving back only "when it is safe for all citizens to have equal rights there in America."

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While theLeague of Their Ownactress lives in Ireland now with her 13-year-old child, her four adult children remain stateside.

"I also wanted to make sure that it was safe for me before I brought my daughter this summer, where we plan to spend the summertime off from her schooling here with my family," O'Donnell said of her recent visit in the interview. "My son is having his first child. So we're very excited to be home."

O'Donnell was shocked by how much her original home had changed for her after she'd spent a year away. "I was in New York for the last two weeks, and I have to tell you, it feels like a very different country, a very different place to me," she said, noting how disconnected she has become. "Because for a year I haven't been watching the news. I haven't been watching American culture television."

She explained how Irish culture feels distinct from that of the U.S. "I'm in a place where celebrity worship does not exist. I've been in a place where there's more balance to the news, there's more balance to life," she said. "It's not everyone trying to get more, more, more. It's a very different culture. And I felt the United States in a completely different way than I ever had before I left."

O'Donnell added that she completely stands by her decision to move. "I don't regret leaving at all," she said. "I think I did what I needed to do to save myself, my child, and my sanity. And I'm very happy that I'm not in the midst of it there, because the energy that I felt while I was in the United States was — if I can use the most simple word I can think of — it was scary. There's a feeling that something is really wrong, and nobody is doing anything about it."

O'Donnell had previouslyavoided returning to the States due to security concerns. "My daughter graduated college and I didn't go back because the security people said to me they didn't think it was wise," the comedian revealed in September. "Because I think Trump will use me to rile his base."

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Trump and O'Donnell have along-standing feudthat dates back to her time as a cohost onThe View. In July, the presidentthreatened to revoke the actress' citizenship.

"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," Trump wrote on hisTruth Socialplatform. "She is a Threat to Humanity, and should remain in the wonderful Country of Ireland, if they want her."

O'Donnell was quick to respond on Instagram. "The president of the usa has always hated the fact that i see him for who he is - a criminal con man sexual-abusing liar out to harm our nation to serve himself," she wrote. "This is why i moved to ireland - he is a dangerous old soulless man with dementia who lacks empathy, compassion, and basic humanity."

Read the original article onEntertainment Weekly

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February 14, 2026

Rosie O'Donnell reveals why she secretly returned to U.S. amid Trump citizenship threats

Amanda Edwards/Getty; Taylor Hill/WireImage Key points Rosie O'Donnell said she recently returned to the U.S. for two weeks after sh...

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How a 200-year-old Underground Railroad stop was just discovered in New York City

For the first time in over a century, historians say a new stop on the Underground Railroad has been discovered, fully intact, in New York City.

The site is hidden in the Merchant's House Museum, the only 19th-century home in Manhattan with both its interior and exterior preserved.

Tucked away in the walls on the second-floor is a chest of drawers that visitors have walked past for decades. But inside one of the drawer shelves is a hidden passageway -- just barely large enough for an upright person to fit through, leading 15 feet underground.

Museum staff have known about the existence of the passageway since the 1930s. However, they were only able to officially link it to the now-iconic Underground Railroad recently, after years of research.

Trump admin removes memorial honoring people enslaved by George Washington in Philadelphia

That journey began two years ago when the museum's historian, Ann Haddad, discovered that the builder and designer of the house, Joseph Brewster, was an abolitionist. That set off a muti-pronged effort by staff, volunteers and outside experts to research everything from general history of New York City, Brewster's life and architecture of the time.

"I've cold-called many academics and said, like, 'I have this thing, like, will you listen to me talk and I get your feedback on it?' Just because, you know, it just felt so big that we really wanted to ask and ask and ask," Camille Czerkowicz, the Merchant House's Curator & Collections Manager, told ABC News.

One of the most exciting discoveries came when they learned of Brewster's connections to integrated churches in New York.

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"He sold this house to become an elder at this church, and we learned from church archives that Brewster actually approved the construction of a false floor in the church that he had built, "Emily Hill-Wright, the museum's Director of Operations, told ABC News. "And so to me, that was a really compelling piece of evidence, because it showed that this is not just a one-off, that Brewster has a pattern of putting sort of these hiding spaces in buildings that he has constructed."

At the time of the house's building in the 1830s, the city was staunchly pro-slavery, even as slavery had been abolished in New York. Assisting freedom seekers was illegal, and pro-slavery riots and kidnappings abounded.

In addition to the immense dangers faced by Black Americans, Hill-Wright explained, "Anyone with a known connection to anti-slavery work or abolition was a target, and your life could be in danger."

While Brewster's feats were noble, they were not isolated. Anti-slavery efforts at the time were led by the Black community, said Czerkowicz and Hill-Wright. The museum is continuing to research what organizations and individuals may have been involved in assisting Brewster with the home's construction.

The Merchant's House is now the earliest known site of Underground Railroad activity in New York City, according to the museum.

On the significance of this discovery, Hill-Wright said, "By necessity, of course, these spaces were incredibly secretive, and so today, there are very, very, very few intact spaces like this one. Many Underground Railroad sites have other types of documentation, whether it's really strong oral history or, very rarely, there are written records, but it is very rare to have a physical space like ours that is as intact as our space is."

Having always offered visitors a look into domestic life for a merchant and his family in the 19th century, the Merchant's House is now working to broaden its offerings for this new layer of historical significance. Museum staff are continuing their research, and Czerkowicz and Hill-Wright hope that sharing their discovery with the public will allow for new opportunities in that effort.

The museum remains open to the public, with plexiglass soon to be installed around the Underground Railroad site so anyone may come to see it.

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February 14, 2026

How a 200-year-old Underground Railroad stop was just discovered in New York City

For the first time in over a century, historians say a new stop on the Underground Railroad has been discovered, ful...

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US military strikes another alleged drug boat in Caribbean, killing 3

WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. military said Friday that it has carried out anotherdeadly strike on a vesselaccused of trafficking drugs in the Caribbean Sea.

U.S. Southern Command said on social media that the boat "was transiting along known narco-trafficking routes in the Caribbean and was engaged in narco-trafficking operations." It said the strike killed three people. A video linked to the post shows a boat moving through the water before exploding in flames.

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Friday's attack raises the death toll from the Trump administration's strikes on alleged drug boats to 133 people in at least 38 attacks carried out since early September in the Caribbean Sea and eastern Pacific Ocean.

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth declared last week that "some top cartel drug-traffickers" in the region "have decided to cease all narcotics operations INDEFINITELY due to recent (highly effective) kinetic strikes in the Caribbean." However, Hegseth did not provide any details or information to back up this claim, made in a post on his personal account on social media.

President Donald Trump has said the U.S. is in "armed conflict" with cartels in Latin America and hasjustified the attacksas a necessary escalation to stem the flow of drugs. But his administration has offered little evidence to support its claims of killing "narcoterrorists."

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February 14, 2026

US military strikes another alleged drug boat in Caribbean, killing 3

WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. military said Friday that it has carried out anotherdeadly strike on a vesselaccused of traff...

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TSA agents are working without pay at US airports due to another shutdown

A shutdown of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security that took effect early Saturday impacts the agency responsible for screening passengers and bags at airports across the country. Travelers with airline reservations may be nervously recalling a 43-daygovernment shutdownthat led to historic flight cancellations and long delays last year.

Transportation Security Administrationofficers are expected to work without pay while lawmakers remain without an agreement on Homeland Security's annual funding. TSA officers also worked through the record shutdown that ended Nov. 12, but aviation experts say this one may play out differently.

Trade groups for the U.S. travel industry and major airlines nonetheless warned that the longer DHS appropriations are lapsed, the longer security lines at the nation's commercial airports could get.

Here's what to know aboutthe latest shutdownand how to plan ahead.

What's different about this shutdown?

Funding for Homeland Securityexpired at midnight. But the rest of the federal government is funded through Sept. 30. That means air traffic controllers employed by the Federal Aviation Administration will receive paychecks as usual, reducing the risk of widespread flight cancellations.

According to the department's contingency plan, about 95% of TSA workers are deemed essential personnel and required to keep working. Democrats in the House and Senate say Homeland Security won't get funded until new restrictions are placed on federal immigration operations.

During past shutdowns, disruptions to air travel tended tobuild over time, not overnight. About a month into last year's shutdown, for example, TSA temporarily closed two checkpoints at Philadelphia International Airport. That same day, the governmenttook the extraordinary stepof ordering all commercial airlines to reduce their domestic flight schedules.

John Rose, chief risk officer for global travel management company Altour, said strains could surface at airports more quickly this time because the TSA workforce also will be remembering the last shutdown.

"It's still fresh in their minds and potentially their pocketbooks," Rose said.

What is the impact on travelers?

It's hard to predict whether, when or where security screening snags might pop up. Even a handful of unscheduled TSA absences could quickly lead to longer wait times at smaller airports, for example, if there's just a single security checkpoint.

That's why travelers should plan to arrive early and allow extra time to get through security.

"I tell people to do this even in good times," Rose said.

Experts say flight delays also are a possibility even though air traffic controllers are not affected by the DHS shutdown.

Airlines might decide to delay departures in some cases to wait for passengers to clear screening, said Rich Davis, senior security advisor at risk mitigation company International SOS. Shortages of TSA officers also could slow the screening of checked luggage behind the scenes.

What travelers can do to prepare

Most airports display security line wait times on their websites, but don't wait until the day of a flight to check them, Rose advised.

"You may look online and it says two-and-a-half hours," he said. "Now it's two-and-a-half hours before your flight and you haven't left for the airport yet."

Passengers should also pay close attention while packing since prohibited items are likely to prolong the screening process. For carry-on bags, avoid bringing full-size shampoo or other liquids, large gels or aerosols and items like pocketknives in carry-on bags.

TSAhas a full liston its website of what is and isn't allowed in carry-on and checked luggage.

At the airport, Rose said, remember to "practice patience and empathy."

"Not only are they not getting paid," he said of TSA agents, "they're probably working with reduced staff and dealing with angry travelers."

Will the shutdown drag on?

The White House has been negotiating with Democratic lawmakers, but the two sides failed to reach a deal by the end of the week before senators and members of Congress were set to leave Washington for a 10-day break.

Lawmakers in both chambers were on notice, however, to return if a deal to end the shutdown is struck.

Democrats have said they won't help approve more funding for Homeland Security untilnew restrictionsare placed on federal immigration operations after the fatal shooting ofAlex PrettiandRenee Goodin Minneapolis last month.

In a joint statement, U.S. Travel, Airlines for America and the American Hotel & Lodging Association warned that the shutdown threatens to disrupt air travel as the busy spring break travel season approaches.

"Travelers and the U.S. economy cannot afford to have essential TSA personnel working without pay, which increases the risk of unscheduled absences and call outs, and ultimately can lead to higher wait times and missed or delayed flights," the statement said.

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February 14, 2026

TSA agents are working without pay at US airports due to another shutdown

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Search for Savannah Guthrie's mom remains intense: What to know

The investigation intoNancy Guthrie's whereabouts hit the two-week mark Saturday, Feb 14, as law enforcement seeks answers.

The missing mother of "Today" anchorSavannah Guthriewas last seen on Jan. 31 at her home near Tucson, Arizona. The FBI has called the case akidnapping; authorities believe the 84-year-oldmother of threewas "taken"from her home in the early hours of Feb. 1.

The reward for information that leads to Guthrie's location or the arrest and conviction of anyone involved in her abduction has been doubled to $100,000.

PresidentDonald Trumpweighed in on the investigation, telling reporters Friday, Feb 13 that "progress has been made," adding, "someone either knew what they were doing very well, or they were rank amateurs. Either way, it's not a good situation."

Since the investigation began, law enforcement has collected over 13,000 public tips, released doorbell camera footage showing a suspect, recovered DNA not belonging to Nancy Guthrie from her property, and looked into several ransom notes sent to media outlets. Here's what to know.

What is the description of the suspect?

The FBI said that anunidentified personseen in recovered doorbell camera footage is a male, about "5'9" - 5'10" tall, with an average build." Video showed the suspect wearing a black, 25-liter 'Ozark Trail Hiker Pack' backpack.

FBI DirectorKash Patelreleased the surveillance footageon Feb. 10 showing an "armed" man, wearing a mask and gloves, while seemingly tampering with the mother's supposedly deactivated Google Nestdoorbell camera.

In two videos, the person wears a mask and gloves and looks to hold a flashlight in their mouth as they attempt to cover the camera with foliage. In another clip, the person walks up to the home, head down, wearing a dark zip-up jacket, light pants, a backpack, and what appears to be a weapon in a holster hanging around their waist. Patel described the person as "armed."

During aFeb. 13 appearance on the "Today" show, NBC correspondent Tom Winter said the backpack was a private-label brand exclusively sold to Walmart. If the backpack was purchased recently, Winter said police could possibly subpoena the retailer for a list of people who recently bought it in the greater Tucson area.

What DNA are authorities analyzing?

Among the DNA recovered at the scene weredried blood dropletsspotted on the Spanish tile entrance at the home on Feb. 3, which the sheriff's department later confirmed was Nancy Guthrie's blood.

Other evidence includes several gloves in the area, which were sent in for DNA analysis.

The Pima County Sheriff's Department said on Friday that the closest gloves were found about 2 miles from the property. Law enforcement also collected DNA from Nancy Guthrie's home that did not belong to the 84-year-old or those in close contact with her. The sheriff would not confirm where the DNA was collected.

Pima County SheriffChris Nanostold Arizona's NBC affiliate,KVOA,that authorities "don't even know the true value" of the gloves to the investigation.

Who is leading the investigation?

The Pima County Sheriff's Department and the FBI are both investigating Nancy Guthrie's kidnapping, though a Reuters report prompted speculation of friction between the agencies about who is leading.

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Citing a "U.S. law enforcement official with knowledge of the case,"Reutersreported Thursday about a disagreement over the processing of evidence, which Nanos, in an interview with NBC affiliateKVOApublished Friday, said "was not even close to the truth."

While he confirmed that he had disagreed with the bureau's attempt to send "one or two" gloves to its lab close by, he said the FBI eventually agreed that it made more "sense" to centralize the evidence at a private lab in South Florida known asDNA Labs International. "There's no arguing there. There's no fight. Sheriff didn't block anything. This has always been a case where we both work very close together."

At a Feb. 5 news conference, Nanos responded to a question about who was leading the investigation, saying, "There's no ego here" and "We'll take anybody's help."

"Today" show host Savannah Guthrie's 84-year-old mother, Nancy Guthrie, was seemingly abducted from her home outside Tucson, Arizona, in the early hours of Feb. 1, 2026. Authorities released photos and videos on Feb. 10, of a potential suspect who was caught tampering with a camera on her front door on the morning of her disappearance. 

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> New images from a Nest camera show an armed individual appearing to have tampered with the camera at Nancy Guthrie's front door on the morning of her disappearance.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> U.S. journalist and television host Savannah Guthrie, accompanied by her siblings Annie and Camron, speaks in a video message, addressing that they are willing to pay for the release of their elderly mother, Nancy Guthrie, who went missing from her Arizona home several days ago, in this screen grab obtained from social media video taken at an unspecified location and released February 7, 2026.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Nancy Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of "Today" anchor Savannah Guthrie is missing, and Arizona officials say they are investigating her disappearance as a "crime."

"Today" show cohost Savannah Guthrie, accompanied by her siblings Annie and Camron Guthrie, speaks in a video message addressing a possible kidnapper who might be holding her 84-year-old mother, Nancy Guthrie in this screen grab obtained from social media video taken at an unspecified location and released Feb. 4, 2026.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> The Pima County Sheriff's Office in Arizona received a 911 call reporting Nancy Guthrie missing from her home outside Tucson around noon local time on Sunday, Feb. 1.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> She was reported missing from her home in a community just north of Tucson on Feb. 1, 2026.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" />

Nancy Guthrie kidnapping suspect seen in new photos as search continues

"Today" show host Savannah Guthrie's 84-year-old mother,Nancy Guthrie, was seemingly abducted from her home outside Tucson, Arizona, in the early hours of Feb. 1, 2026. Authorities released photos and videos on Feb. 10, of a potential suspect who was caught tampering with a camera on her front door on the morning of her disappearance.

When was Savannah Guthrie's mom Nancy last seen?

Nancy Guthrie has not been seensince Jan. 31,and her family reported her missing the following morning.

After she failed to show up at a friend's house to watch a church service online on Feb. 1, as she routinely did, they called her daughter, Annie, who lives nearby, a source close to the family told NBC News.

The Pima County Sheriff's Department has said they believe she was taken from her homeagainst her will.

What was in the ransom note? Who received it?

Multiple news outlets, including Arizona-based news station KOLD and TMZ, received a ransom note that allegedly mentioned a deadline, dollar amount and specific details that only Guthrie's abductor might know, KOLD reporter Mary Coleman toldCNNon Feb. 3. Both outlets reported that the letter included a demand formillions in Bitcoin cryptocurrency.

The note shared with media outlets set a 5 p.m. payment deadline on Feb. 5, Janke said, and a second deadline mentioned in the note was Monday, Feb. 9.

The note included details about Nancy Guthrie's Apple Watch, Janke said. According to CBS News, the note also contained details about the clothing she was wearing the night of her disappearance.

What has Savannah Guthrie said?

Savannah Guthrieand her siblings, Annie and Camron, have posted several videos on social media pleading for their mother's safety.

On Feb. 12, she shared atouching home video of her momand sister Anngie as kids as well as a family photo of the siblings as children. "our lovely mom. 💛" the journalist captioned theInstagrampost Thursday, Feb. 12. "we will never give up on her. thank you for your prayers and hope."

On Feb. 4, she responded to reports of a ransom letter saying, "As a family, we are doing everything that we can. We are ready to talk."

"However, we live in a world where voices and images are easily manipulated. We need to know without a doubt that she's alive and that you have her. We want to hear from you and we are ready to listen. Please reach out to us," Savannah Guthrie said.

Contributing: Melina Khan, Brendan Morrow and KiMi Robinson, USA TODAY;Arizona Republic staff

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Search for Savannah Guthrie's mom remains intense: What to know

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February 14, 2026

Search for Savannah Guthrie's mom remains intense: What to know

The investigation intoNancy Guthrie's whereabouts hit the two-week mark Saturday, Feb 14, as law enforcement seeks a...

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Bill Nye, 70, Reveals the 3 Things He Wants to Do Before He Dies (Exclusive)

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NEED TO KNOW

• Bill Nye attended Frederick Anderson's 10th Anniversary Blue Jacket Fashion Show on Wednesday, Feb. 4

• Speaking exclusively to PEOPLE, the scientist and activist, 70, revealed three things he wants to do while he's "still alive"

• Nye also shared his upcoming Valentine's Day plans with his wife, author and journalist Liza Mundy

Bill Nyeis sharing his bucket list, and it's ambitious.

The scientist and former television personality caught up with PEOPLE on the red carpet at the Blue Jacket Fashion Show in N.Y.C., an event that uses menswear as a platform to raise awareness and funds for prostate cancer. During the conversation on Feb. 4, Nye, 70, shared the "three things" he most wants to do before he dies.

"You know, there are three things I want. I want to explore the worlds," Nye told PEOPLE. "But I want to not gethit with an asteroid— which is a real thing. And also, I wanna find life on another world or evidence of life on another world while I'm still alive."

Nye, who recently announced that he is stepping down as CEO ofThe Planetary Society, a non-profit established to advance space science and exploration based in Pasadena, Calif., said that he has a few more Earth-bound goals to check off his list as well.

JP Yim/Getty

"I've got a couple of TV shows I want to make. There's a movie I want to make, and I'm still an ambassador [for The Planetary Society]. I'm still very involved in space policy visits to Capitol Hill to get Congressto support NASA," he explained.

The activist, whomarried journalist and author Liza Mundy, 65, in 2022, also shared his upcoming Valentine's Day plans.

"We go out to dinner at this restaurant we like. And last year, I remarked we are by no means the wealthiest people in the world, but I guarantee you the wealthiest people are no happier than we were. No way. I'm not joking," he said.

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As to his secret for a happy marriage?

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"I listen," he said, adding, "My wife is very funny. She once in a while laughs at things I say — once in a while … But that's been really good."

"We talk about the same kind of things … we have a lot in common," he added.

The PEOPLE Puzzler crossword is here! How quickly can you solve it? Play now!

Nye, who not only attended the Blue Jacket Fashion Show, but also walked the runway in Perry Ellis, shared that the event had a special meaning for him.

"My dad had prostate cancer many years ago. He survived it. But we really want people to get tested early," he said.

Read the original article onPeople

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Bill Nye, 70, Reveals the 3 Things He Wants to Do Before He Dies (Exclusive)

Arturo Holmes/WireImage/Getty NEED TO KNOW Bill Nye attended Frederick Anderson's 10th Anniversary Blue...

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