Jimmy Kimmel is stepping away from late-night television for the next two months, but his replacement 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 temporary sabbatical. Among the 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 brief break, viewers won’t have to wait long for a familiar face to take over.
During Thursday night’s episode of “Jimmy Kimmel Live!,” the comedian revealed he will be taking a two-month sabbatical and has lined up a roster of celebrity guest hosts to fill in during his absence. “I will be taking the next two months off, this time voluntarily,” Kimmel joked, before unveiling several stars who will helm the show while he’s away.
Among the names announced were Tiffany Haddish, Colman Domingo, Ike Barinholtz, Anthony Anderson, Jelly Roll, and Rosie O’Donnell. “And… I asked one of our commander-in-chief’s all-time favorites, Rosie O’Donnell, to be here to keep the hits coming,” Kimmel quipped, drawing a loud reaction from the audience.
O’Donnell’s Booking Comes After Years Of Public Feuding With Trump
O’Donnell’s upcoming guest-hosting stint is particularly notable given her long-running public feud with President Donald Trump. The comedian made headlines in 2025 after relocating to Ireland with her youngest child following Trump’s election victory. Tensions between the two escalated further in July when Trump publicly suggested he was considering revoking O’Donnell’s U.S. 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 Truth Social at the time. “She is a Threat to Humanity, and should remain in the wonderful Country of Ireland, if they want her. GOD BLESS AMERICA.”
O’Donnell quickly fired back on social media. “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; this is why 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 United States. Earlier this year, she revealed that she quietly returned home for a visit with family after spending more than a year abroad.
“I recently went home for two weeks and I did not really tell anyone. I just went to see my family,” O’Donnell said during an appearance on SiriusXM’s “Cuomo Mornings.” “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.”
Her appearance on “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” marks 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 become one of the president’s most outspoken critics in late-night television.
Over the years, Kimmel has regularly used his monologues to mock Trump, frequently taking aim at 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 years as Kimmel became increasingly vocal about political issues, with the host often arguing that comedians have a responsibility to speak out when they see something they believe is wrong.
Most recently, Kimmel referenced the brief 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 time off, Kimmel joked that his upcoming hiatus was voluntary, a lighthearted nod to that controversy.
