Comedian and actress Rosie O’Donnell has publicly blamed President Donald Trump for the deadly flash floods that struck central Texas on July 4, claiming his administration’s cuts to weather services contributed to the disaster that killed over 100 people.
In a TikTok video posted on Sunday, July 6, O’Donnell, who moved to Dublin, Ireland, earlier this year following Trump’s reelection, directly criticized the president’s policies. She stated that when the president eliminates early warning systems and weather forecasting capabilities of the government, these are the results that will be seen daily.
O’Donnell, whose feud with Trump dates back to 2006, continued her criticism by declaring that Trump has put the country in danger through his decisions and what she called a ridiculously immoral bill that he signed into law. She said, “As Republicans cheered, people will die as a result and they’ve started already.”
The actress concluded her video by expressing shame on Trump and what she termed GOP sycophants. Her comments came after catastrophic flooding first struck central Texas on July 4, when torrential rains caused the Guadalupe River to rise approximately 26 feet within just 45 minutes.
The surge washed out roads and destroyed property across six counties. The flooding has claimed over 100 lives, including children from Camp Mystic, a Christian summer camp in Hunt, Texas.
O’Donnell’s accusations center on staffing cuts implemented by the Department of Government Efficiency earlier this year. The department eliminated hundreds of jobs at both the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the National Weather Service as part of efforts to reduce government spending. The National Weather Service reportedly lost approximately 600 staff members during these cuts.
Texas Emergency Management Chief W. Nim Kidd addressed the forecasting issues during a Friday press conference, explaining that the original forecast received Wednesday from the National Weather Service predicted three to six inches of rain in the Concho Valley and four to eight inches in the Hill Country. However, the actual rainfall amount that fell at the specific location was never included in any of those forecasts.
President Trump has denied that previous cuts to emergency services budgets impacted the floods or the ability to inform residents about incoming danger. When asked about the situation on Sunday in New Jersey, Trump characterized the flooding as a 100-year catastrophe that was horrible to watch. He indicated that the water situation was actually a setup from the Biden administration, though he stated he would not blame Biden for the disaster.
Following the devastation, Trump issued a Major Disaster Declaration for Kerr County, Texas, to ensure that first responders immediately have the resources they need. The declaration activated the Federal Emergency Management Agency to provide assistance to affected areas.
Trump announced plans to visit the flood-affected areas on Friday, stating that he wanted to leave time and avoid being in the way of disaster response efforts. He had initially considered visiting sooner but decided against it to prevent interference with rescue operations.
Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem has addressed the weather monitoring issues at recent press events, promising upgrades to weather monitoring systems. However, when asked if meteorologists who lost their jobs this year would be hired back, Trump indicated that he would not expect that to happen.
The president has also mentioned previous plans to phase out FEMA after hurricane season ends, stating that he wants to wean off of FEMA and bring disaster response down to the state level. He suggested that governors should be able to handle disasters and their aftermath independently.
O’Donnell’s criticism represents another flashpoint in her long-running feud with Trump, which has frequently spilled into the political spotlight over the years. Conservative commentators have responded to her latest remarks with backlash, with some accusing her of Trump Derangement Syndrome and calling her comments inappropriate given the ongoing tragedy.
The flooding disaster has prompted broader discussions about weather forecasting capabilities and emergency preparedness systems. With more rain forecast for the affected areas, officials have urged residents in Hunt, in Kerr County, to move to higher ground due to the potential for increased flooding.
