Rosie O’Donnell has come under fire after posting an emotional video reacting to the recent tragic school shooting in Minnesota, where she drew controversial comparisons to Columbine and made assumptions about the suspect’s political leanings. The actress and comedian took to social media in a video labeled “Thursday ramble” to share her thoughts, visibly shaken as she reflected on America’s long history of gun violence in schools.
“So, [I was thinking] about the Minnesota shooting and it brought me right back to Columbine in 1999 when I just could not get it through my head that students in America were shooting each other in schools, and this was a church inside a Catholic school,” O’Donnell said. “And what do you know, it was a white guy, Republican, MAGA person? What do you know? White supremacist.”
Rosie O’Donnell Slammed After MN Shooting Comments Clash With Police Reports
Her remarks quickly drew criticism as official reports have clarified that the alleged gunman, 23-year-old, who identified as Robin Westman, had not expressed support for Trump or MAGA politics. Per ABC, authorities said Westman’s motive remains under investigation, but Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara revealed the suspect harbored “a deranged obsession with previous mass shooters” and aimed to inflict maximum terror for notoriety.
“The shooter expressed hate towards almost every group,” Acting U.S. Attorney Joe Thompson added. “The shooter expressed hate towards Black people, the shooter expressed hate towards Mexican people, the shooter expressed hate towards Christian people, the shooter expressed hate towards Jewish people. In short, the shooter appeared to hate all of us.” Videos showing weapons, loaded magazines, and disturbing messages, including “Nuke India” and “Kill Trump,” were also found during the investigation.
O’Donnell’s video quickly spread across X (formerly Twitter) after users began resharing it with biting commentary. One viral repost read, “Rosie makes Joy Behar sound smart.” Others criticized the emotional delivery of her message rather than its substance. “Why do people make videos of themselves crying? I will never understand that,” one user wrote.
This is not the first time O’Donnell has sparked heated debate with her political commentary. For decades, the former talk show host has used her platform to advocate for stricter gun laws and to criticize Republican leaders, often drawing backlash from conservative circles.
