Jimmy Kimmel is stepping away from late-night television for the following two months, but his alternative is already turning heads. During Thursday night’s episode of “Jimmy Kimmel Live!,” the host announced that a rotating lineup of guest hosts will take over while he enjoys a brief sabbatical. Among the many names revealed was longtime comedian and outspoken Donald Trump critic Rosie O’Donnell, whose selection immediately raised eyebrows given her decades-long feud with the president.
While Jimmy Kimmel is stepping away from late-night television for a transient break, viewers won’t need to wait long for a well-recognized face to take over.
During Thursday night’s episode of “Jimmy Kimmel Live!,” the comedian revealed he will probably be taking a two-month sabbatical and has lined up a roster of celebrity guest hosts to fill in during his absence. “I will probably be taking the following two months off, this time voluntarily,” Kimmel joked, before unveiling several stars who will helm the show while he’s away.
Among the many names announced were Tiffany Haddish, Colman Domingo, Ike Barinholtz, Anthony Anderson, Jelly Roll, and Rosie O’Donnell. “And… I asked considered one of our commander-in-chief’s all-time favorites, Rosie O’Donnell, to be here to maintain the hits coming,” Kimmel quipped, drawing a loud response from the audience.
O’Donnell’s Booking Comes After Years Of Public Feuding With Trump
O’Donnell’s upcoming guest-hosting stint is especially notable given her long-running public feud with President Donald Trump. The comedian made headlines in 2025 after relocating to Ireland along with her youngest child following Trump’s election victory. Tensions between the 2 escalated further in July when Trump publicly suggested he was considering revoking O’Donnell’s U.S. citizenship.
“Due to undeniable fact that Rosie O’Donnell shouldn’t be in one of the best interests of our Great Country, I’m giving serious consideration to taking away her Citizenship,” Trump wrote on Truth Social on the time. “She is a Threat to Humanity, and will remain within the wonderful Country of Ireland, in the event that they want her. GOD BLESS AMERICA.”
O’Donnell quickly fired back on social media. “The president of the USA has all the time hated the undeniable fact that I see him for who he’s, a criminal con man, sexual-abusing liar out to harm our nation to serve himself; this is the reason I moved to Ireland,” she wrote.
Rosie O’Donnell Recently Returned To The U.S.
Despite relocating overseas, O’Donnell has continued making occasional trips back to the USA. Earlier this yr, she revealed that she quietly returned home for a visit with family after spending greater than a yr abroad.
“I recently went home for 2 weeks and I did not likely tell anyone. I just went to see my family,” O’Donnell said during an appearance on SiriusXM’s “Cuomo Mornings.” “I desired to see how hard it could be for me to get in and in another country. I desired to feel what it felt like. I desired to hold my children again. And I hadn’t been home in over a yr.”
Her appearance on “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” marks considered one of her most high-profile returns to American television since relocating to Ireland.
Jimmy Kimmel And Donald Trump’s Feud Has Escalated For Years
While Rosie O’Donnell’s ongoing battle with President Donald Trump is well documented, Kimmel has also turn out to be considered one of the president’s most outspoken critics in late-night television.
Over time, Kimmel has recurrently used his monologues to mock Trump, often taking aim on the president’s policies, public statements, legal troubles, and campaign appearances. The comedian’s sharp criticism has often prompted responses from Trump himself, who has repeatedly attacked Kimmel on social media and labeled him a “loser” and a “third-rate talent.”
Their feud intensified in recent times as Kimmel became increasingly vocal about political issues, with the host often arguing that comedians have a responsibility to talk out once they see something they imagine is improper.
Most recently, Kimmel referenced the transient controversy surrounding his show after comments he made regarding conservative commentator Charlie Kirk sparked backlash and temporarily put him at odds with ABC.
During his announcement about taking day off, Kimmel joked that his upcoming hiatus was voluntary, a lighthearted nod to that controversy.