Comedian and actress Rosie O’Donnell is facing renewed criticism after suggesting that President Donald Trump could use a national emergency as a pretext to cancel or postpone the 2026 midterm elections.
During a conversation Wednesday with author and former Democratic presidential candidate Marianne Williamson, O’Donnell speculated that the Trump administration could exploit a major crisis to remain in power.
As Williamson discussed concerns about the upcoming midterms, O’Donnell offered a more dramatic prediction.
“Not only a rigging, but I think he will have some sort of crisis, whether it’s an assassination attempt or a terrorist bombing,” O’Donnell said. “There will be some catastrophic event and he will say there will be no elections.”
She linked her concerns to Project 2025, a conservative policy blueprint that has became a major talking point for Democrats and left-wing activists. O’Donnell argued that many developments she associates with the project would have once seemed implausible but have now come to fruition, though it’s unclear what she was referring to specifically.
The actress also accused the administration of undermining voting rights and compared current immigration detention policies to “concentration camps.”
O’Donnell left the United States for Ireland shortly after Trump’s second inauguration in January 2025. She has repeatedly said that the president’s return to office was a major factor in her decision to relocate overseas.
During her discussion with Williamson, O’Donnell described her move as necessary for her mental well-being and family life.
“That was my choice in order to keep my family and my sanity safe,” she said. “I don’t want to have the stress and anxiety associated with the constant barrage of him,” though she frequently brings him up in interviews.
O’Donnell characterized her reaction to Trump as resembling post-traumatic stress, noting that their public feud has stretched nearly two decades.
The animosity between Trump and O’Donnell dates back to 2006, when she criticized him during her tenure as a co-host on ABC’s The View, to which Trump responded with a series of public attacks.
The conflict has continued throughout Trump’s political career. During a meeting last year with Irish Taoiseach Micheál Martin, Trump joked that Ireland would be better off not knowing O’Donnell after a reporter referenced her move overseas.
Trump later escalated the rhetoric on Truth Social, suggesting he was considering revoking O’Donnell’s U.S. citizenship and calling her a “Threat to Humanity,” though he appeared to be joking.
Congressional elections occur on a fixed schedule established by law, and postponing them would face significant legal and constitutional hurdles.
Nevertheless, O’Donnell’s comments reflect broader concerns among some who believe democratic institutions could come under increased strain during his second term. Supporters of the president dismiss such warnings as unfounded fear-mongering and point to Trump’s previous term, during which regularly scheduled elections continued despite national emergencies including the COVID-19 pandemic.
