The Jim Acosta Show: EXCLUSIVE – Rosie O'Donnell Responds to Trump's Latest Attacks
Episode Date: September 5, 2025
Host: Jim Acosta
Guest: Rosie O'Donnell
Episode Overview
This special episode of The Jim Acosta Show centers on Rosie O’Donnell’s first public response to a new series of personal attacks by former President Donald Trump. In an unfiltered conversation, Jim and Rosie dissect Trump's ongoing assaults not just on her, but on American democracy, discuss the cover-up of the Epstein files, raise serious concerns about Trump’s health, and reflect on the wider erosion of American values and media integrity. The discussion oscillates between personal anecdotes, political analysis, calls to action, and sharp critiques of Trump and his circle.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Trump's Latest Attacks on Rosie O'Donnell
- Rosie describes being woken up by news of Trump's renewed attacks, which she connects to attempts to distract from more serious issues like the Epstein files and ongoing court cases.
"He is deranged, and I believe he's suffering from dementia and some very serious medical complications, which looks like congestive heart failure to me..."
(Rosie O'Donnell, 01:14) - She shares examples of Trump's decades-long threats against her and her family.
- Rosie's main thesis: Trump's fixation on personal feuds is a deliberate sideshow.
2. Epstein Files Controversy
- Both Rosie and Jim highlight the centrality of the Epstein files scandal and Trump's alleged involvement.
- Rosie points out the significance of survivor testimony and suggests Trump’s reaction ("flyover" during press conferences) is an implicit admission of guilt.
"Could you say 'I'm guilty' without saying 'I'm guilty' more than having a flyover during their press conference?"
(Rosie O'Donnell, 00:48)
3. Trump's Legal and Moral Culpability
- Reference to the E. Jean Carroll case and the multiple allegations against Trump.
"How can you deny the charges of 26 women and then being found culpable of raping E. Jean Carroll...and not still think that he is guilty?"
(Rosie O'Donnell, 03:02) - Jim notes the lack of clarity on why Trump’s name is in Epstein's files, despite years of public scrutiny.
(03:20)
4. Culture War, Authoritarianism, and Democracy Under Threat
- Rosie argues Trump wants to erase black and gay culture and foster "a white separatist nation."
- Jim and Rosie both express alarm about the normalization of anti-democratic actions, including armed National Guard deployments and stripping citizenship.
- Both criticize the failure of major institutions—media, universities, the judiciary—to counteract growing authoritarianism.
5. The State of American Media
- Rosie criticizes “corporately owned media” and laments news being branded as entertainment, arguing that this shift has eroded journalism and public accountability.
"When they own the information, they can bend it all they want."
(Rosie O'Donnell, 10:12) - Both discuss recent moves toward conservative control of major outlets and the wealthy, unaccountable ownership of legacy media.
6. Economic Decline and the American Dream
- Rosie shares her own working-class roots, how the American dream is now inaccessible to most young people, and the impact of crises like student debt and unemployment.
(16:09 & 18:19) - Jim highlights new unemployment figures and the decimation of the federal workforce as evidence of the country’s downward trajectory.
7. Project 2025 & Dangers Ahead
- Rosie warns listeners about the extremist Project 2025 agenda, Medicaid/healthcare cuts, and the appointment of unqualified loyalists like RFK Jr.
"No one read Project 2025. And if you had, you would have been terrified and left the country."
(Rosie O'Donnell, 13:37)
8. Call to Action & Hope
- Repeated insistence that now is the moment for all with a platform to speak up and resist.
"Now or never. Break glass in time of emergency. It's time to break the glass."
(Rosie O'Donnell, 03:59) - Endorsement of grassroots protest actions (“black out the system,” mass demonstrations) as the necessary response to a “coup” against American democracy.
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
Rosie O'Donnell on Trump's Attacks
- "He is deranged, and I believe he's suffering from dementia and some very serious medical complications, which looks like congestive heart failure to me..." (01:14)
On the Epstein Files
- "We all know why. Why else do you think he paid a billion dollars to Jeffrey Epstein over the time of their friendship?... If this was an Angela Lansbury murder, she wrote, people would be... It's too obvious." (03:39)
On Sexual Abuse Allegations
- "For every child that was ever raped by a grown man. How dare he? How dare he. We are mighty. One in three girls suffers child sex abuse. One in five boys. Those are the statistics. America, wake up." (04:42)
On Media and Truth
- "We're not telling the American people the truth. And that is the fault of corporately owned media. And it changed in my lifetime." (10:36)
On the State of the Nation
- "It's a clown show. He hired unqualified people to create chaos in every area of the country so he could take control." (13:11)
- "He is a criminal con man and not even a good one." (20:29)
On Activism and Courage
- "Every person with a platform to speak out about it. Every single person. Now or never. Break glass in time of emergency. It's time to break the glass." (03:59)
- "Do you want freedom, America, or do you not? Because if you don't, the time has come." (27:13)
On the American Dream
- "That's not the truth anymore. It's not the truth for our kids... That's what I took for granted, he's taken away." (16:09)
Key Timestamps
| Timestamp | Segment | |-----------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 00:06 | Opening – Trump’s renewed attacks on Rosie and American democracy | | 00:48 | Rosie on being targeted: connecting personal attacks to the Epstein files and the cover-up | | 03:01 | Discussing E. Jean Carroll case, survivor testimonies, and cultural denial | | 04:42 | Rosie denounces Trump’s dismissal of survivors, calls for nationwide awakening | | 05:57 | Claims about international elites, banking, and scale of Epstein cover-up | | 08:50 | Rosie’s reflections on feeling depressed by U.S. events from Ireland | | 10:12 | Critique of corporately owned media, Israel/Gaza coverage, and "news as entertainment" | | 11:49 | Evaluating Democratic opposition: mention of Gavin Newsom and Project 2025 dangers | | 13:11 | “It’s a clown show” – chaos as a strategy | | 14:29 | Women’s allegations vs. obsession with trans athletes | | 15:39 | Rosie on leaving, fighting from abroad, memories of working-class life | | 17:23 | The American dream slipping away, generational change | | 19:24 | Student debt, loss of post-college opportunity | | 20:29 | Trump family enrichment, lack of oversight | | 22:21 | National Guard in D.C., militarization, insurrection | | 24:26 | Media failures—press should withhold Oval Office coverage | | 25:23 | Trump’s obsession with Rosie, childish behavior | | 26:21 | Rosie’s life in Ireland and upcoming Australia tour | | 27:13 | Urgency—resistance to oligarchy, defending American values | | 28:24 | Grassroots organizing: "black out the system," parallels to South Korea | | 29:41 | Defense of free speech, speaking out as an American right |
Tone and Language
- Candid, urgent, and emotional: Both Jim and Rosie speak plainly and directly, conveying alarm and frustration.
- Fiery and at times raw: The language is unvarnished and sometimes profane, reflecting the gravity of topics and their personal investment.
- Personal and anecdotal: Rosie shares personal history to anchor broader social commentary.
Summary Takeaways
- Rosie O’Donnell forcefully responds to Trump’s personal attacks, linking them to larger authoritarian and criminal behaviors.
- Both discuss the severity of the Epstein scandal, the need for transparency, and the significance of survivor testimony.
- The conversation broadens to encompass concerns about democracy, media accountability, the collapse of the American dream, and the urgency of grassroots activism.
- Rosie urges all Americans with a voice to use it, calling this a pivotal “break glass in case of emergency” moment for the nation.
- Despite living abroad, Rosie’s commitment to American causes and values endures, and she encourages people to rise up collectively.
For Listeners
If you missed the episode, this conversation was a blend of political urgency, raw emotional appeal, and personal testimony. Rosie O’Donnell’s response was not limited to defending herself, but used as a springboard to call out dangerous trends and inspire collective action. The stakes discussed are existential: truth, justice, and the future of American democracy itself.