Rosie O’Donnell is facing intense criticism after accusing President Donald Trump of indirectly causing the deadly flash floods in central Texas that left dozens dead and many still missing.
In a TikTok video posted Sunday, the comedian and actress suggested that Trump’s policies had weakened the government’s ability to issue critical weather warnings.
“Shame on every GOP sycophant who’s listening and following the disastrous decisions of this mentally incapacitated POTUS,” she declared in the video.
The flooding, which caused the Guadalupe River to surge more than 26 feet in less than an hour, devastated parts of Kerr County, with at least 80 fatalities reported so far.
O’Donnell blamed the disaster in part on what she claimed was the president’s decision to “gut” the nation’s early warning infrastructure.
“When the president guts all of the early warning systems and the weather forecast abilities of the government, these are the results,” she said.
She further condemned Trump for signing what she called a “ridiculously immoral bill,” which she alleged undermined key government services.
However, weather officials and emergency personnel swiftly pushed back on O’Donnell’s claims.
CBS Austin meteorologist Avery Tomasco took to X to defend the National Weather Service, stating that flood watches had been issued well in advance of the storm’s arrival.
“The National Weather Service issued a flood watch for Kerr County more than 12 hours ahead of the catastrophic flood. A flash flood warning was issued for Hunt & Ingram 3 HOURS before the Guadalupe started to climb,” Tomasco wrote. “They did their job and they did it well.”
Federal authorities also denied that there had been any recent cuts to the National Weather Service’s budget or operations, and they confirmed that the agency’s emergency alert systems were functioning during the storm.
Rep. Chip Roy (R-TX), whose district includes the flood-stricken area, denounced O’Donnell’s remarks as politically motivated and insensitive.
“We’re still trying to find little girls, still trying to find adults out here,” Roy said during a Fox News interview, according to OANN. “Only in D.C., only in the political world, are they already finger pointing.”
Roy also defended the decision to place camps along the river, stating they were built in scenic areas for community use and were not a mistake.
“You have camps near the river because it’s a beautiful and wonderful place to be,” he explained. “Let’s focus on helping these people and come back later to ask the tough questions.”
The timing of O’Donnell’s video drew additional scrutiny, as it came after she relocated to Ireland following her pledge to leave the U.S. if Trump won reelection.
Although she remains active on social media, her comments about the flood drew sharp rebukes, particularly in Texas, where recovery efforts are still underway.
While some climate activists have echoed concerns about environmental deregulation, no direct link has been established between Trump’s recent legislation and the emergency response failure.
Officials emphasize that severe rainfall was the primary cause of the disaster and insist that emergency protocols were followed appropriately.
Despite the political controversy, local authorities continue to urge the public to support ongoing recovery operations.
As of Sunday night, dozens of individuals remained unaccounted for, and search-and-rescue teams are still combing the affected areas for survivors.
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