Comedian Rosie O'Donnell traveled back to the United States on Sunday, June 9, 2026, to attend the Tony Awards despite her voiced anxieties regarding her American citizenship status.
The performer relocated to Ireland with her 13-year-old child, Clay, in January 2025 following the 2024 presidential election.
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O'Donnell confirmed to Page Six that she verified her travel documentation prior to her arrival to ensure an unhindered entry into the country.
Her initial trip back to the United States occurred in February for a family visit, during which she traveled unaccompanied by her youngest child, who has autism.
"I worried the first time I came back, whether that would be problematic, and I came alone without my child, who is 13 and has autism.
She's my youngest of five," shared O'Donnell.
She sought to prevent her daughter from witnessing any potential complications at the border during that initial evaluation of her travel status.
"I wanted to make sure that if anything happened, it didn't happen in her presence, so it was fine, as it should be," she added.
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The media personality asserted her permanent status as an American citizen and questioned the legal grounds for any potential government detention based on public statements.
"I'm an American citizen and always will be, and he can't really arrest American citizens without cause, and using freedom of speech is not a reason to be arrested in America," O'Donnell said.
She previously detailed the logistics of her confidential two-week visit to the United States during an interview on the SiriusXM program Cuomo Mornings in February.
"I wanted to see how hard it would be for me to get in and out of the country," she said.
The trip marked her first return home in more than twelve months, driven by a desire to reconnect with her family.
"I wanted to feel what it felt like. I wanted to hold my children again.
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And I hadn't been home in over a year," O'Donnell shared.
