Comedian and actress Rosie O’Donnell has attributed the deadly flash floods in central Texas on July 4, 2025, to President Donald Trump. She claims that his administration’s budget reductions to weather services played a role in the disaster that resulted in at least 109 fatalities, with many still unaccounted for. Her remarks followed severe flooding in central Texas, where heavy rains caused the Guadalupe River to rise about 26 feet in just 45 minutes.
In a TikTok video posted on Sunday, July 6, O’Donnell, who relocated to Dublin, Ireland, earlier this year after Trump’s reelection, criticized the president’s policies. She argued that cutting early warning systems and weather forecasting capabilities leads to catastrophic outcomes.
O’Donnell, whose public conflict with Trump dates back to 2006, further criticized his actions, accusing him of endangering the nation through what she described as a “ridiculously immoral bill” he enacted. She said, “As Republicans cheered, people will die as a result, and they’ve started already.”
She concluded her video by expressing her disapproval of Trump and GOP members she referred to as sycophants.
The floodwaters damaged infrastructure and properties across six counties. Among the lives lost were 27 children from Camp Mystic, a Christian summer camp in Hunt, Texas.
O’Donnell’s criticism focuses on staffing reductions by the Department of Government Efficiency earlier this year. Hundreds of positions at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the National Weather Service were cut to decrease government spending, with the National Weather Service reportedly losing around 600 employees.
Texas Emergency Management Chief W. Nim Kidd addressed forecasting challenges during a press briefing, explaining that the initial forecast from the National Weather Service on Wednesday predicted three to six inches of rain in the Concho Valley and four to eight inches in the Hill Country. However, the actual rainfall amounts did not match these predictions.
President Trump has denied that previous budget cuts to emergency services affected the flooding or the capacity to warn residents of impending danger. When questioned about the event on Sunday in New Jersey, Trump described the flooding as a “100-year catastrophe” that was difficult to witness.
In response to the crisis, Trump issued a Major Disaster Declaration for Kerr County, Texas, to provide immediate resources to first responders. This declaration activated the Federal Emergency Management Agency to aid the affected areas.
Trump announced plans to visit the flood-impacted regions on Friday, July 11, aiming to avoid interfering with disaster response efforts. He initially considered an earlier visit but decided against it to ensure rescue operations proceeded without disruption.
Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem has addressed the weather monitoring issues at recent press events, assuring upgrades to these systems. However, when questioned about rehiring meteorologists who lost their jobs this year, Trump indicated that rehiring is unlikely.
The president also mentioned plans to phase out FEMA after hurricane season, advocating for state-level disaster response. He suggested that governors should independently manage disasters and their consequences.
O’Donnell’s remarks reignite her longstanding dispute with Trump, which has often entered political discussions over the years. Conservative commentators reacted with criticism, some accusing her of Trump Derangement Syndrome and deeming her statements inappropriate given the ongoing tragedy.
