Instagram/@rosie
Rosie O’Donnell, the actress and comedian, delivered her very harsh criticism of Donald Trump, the former president by saying that he was “crazy” and quoting a past comment of the future president’s about drug dealers, i.e. if he could “shoot someone on Fifth Avenue” he would still have his followers. In her view, the whole event was mad and she labeled a “demented mind” those words. Besides, she asked people not to succumb but to show resistance which consequently made her followers very active and expressive with their responses.
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Rosie O’Donnell did not mince words in her post and laid waste to Trump’s character through the use of analogy with his public talks. She picked the drug dealers’ very recent statements as the focus of her attack and linked it with Trump’s infamous outburst during the 2016 elections that said he could shoot someone in the street and still have voters. “What was his reaction at the height of his power—when he was worshipped or even adored by millions—‘I could kill someone on 5th Ave and get away with it’?” O’Donnell said. On a further note, she finished with “wtf dead people are always on his sick mind – so sad,” while using the hashtag #resistthemadman. The quoted post is merely another illustration of O’Donnell’s candid and relentless criticism of the ex-President.
Almost immediately, the audience’s reaction was almost universal and mainly in support of her view, they expressed their feelings being a combo of shock, disgust, and resignation. A commenter on Trump’s psyche pointed out, “He loves hearing himself talk his bull. He loves terrifying people. The more people fall for it the happier he is.” This thought suggests that his inflammatory comments are part of a deliberate strategy for holding on to power and gaining recognition.
Another comment was very much to the point, it simply stated the political situation, “Absolutely unimaginable times we’re living in,” thus perhaps conveying a widespread disbelief in the existing political and social atmosphere. One more individual was very expressive, claiming, “When I saw that I had to turn the tv off….this is very disturbing!” It is indicative of how the articulated rhetoric can have a very powerful effect on the emotions of the audience.
Some of the users’ viewpoints were focused on the legal and moral issues. To one user’s mind, the alarming issue of the non-compliance with the judicial power was indicated in the comment: “He’s the Judge, Jury and Executioner. Any middle schooler could point out how illegal his actions are.” Another one pronounced a very severe judgment on his character by saying, “He’s a narcissist. They love pain. As a sociopath, he loves killing. I think he’s both. After all killing another is the ultimate in control.”
The conversation moved to the potential international ramifications of such rhetoric. A concerned person said, “That’s putting Americans who travel abroad at risk for the same treatment…” This remark brings up a very practical concern about revenge and the loss of international standards for American citizens, as a consequence of diplomatic wars.
There were quite many comments that concentrated on who the guilty party is and on the issue of innocence presumed. One of the users pointed out the situation: “But he doesn’t even know for sure that they ARE in fact drug dealers. What accountability will there be for those he kills that are not?” This is a straight-to-the-point challenge to the unfortunate mistake that might happen in the suggested persistent manner.
Nonetheless, a minority of comments that were in the thousands expressed opposing views on Trump, a few of them were on the contrary to O’Donnell’s post. One user curtly replied, “Hey Rosie, stfu why don’t ya,” and another bizarrely remarked, “Not exactly what he said but nice try.” A third participant considered the issue from the point of view of disagreements with O’Donnell and claimed, “So, do I and so should you…..Rosie, do you think any of your kids have ever done drugs?…..What if the worst happened?…..fentanyl is a bad thing.” This unambiguously indicates that the topic continues to create rifts even among those who support O’Donnell.
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Simply put, Rosie’s statement and the ensuing controversy were the ones that brought to light the most significant and enduring divides in the political discourse in the US. The way she perceived Trump as signaling a “demented mind” is fraught with very strong interpretation for her audience who are predominantly those that find his pronouncements as rude and oppressive. The one thing the debate has continued to reveal is the unyielding conflict in America over the concepts of power, justice, and the very characters of the country’s political leaders. The massive outpouring of reactions indicates that Trump’s words still hold the power of stirring up a heated debate that can rally both fierce opposition and steadfast support. This political climate has also seen figures like JD Vance gaining prominence. Meanwhile, Melania Trump has pursued her own initiatives separate from the political fray. The calls for action from activists like Sunsara Taylor highlight the ongoing tensions. Additionally, the First Lady has continued to expand her role on the global stage.