Rosie O'Donnell, the well-known comedian and actress, has come under intense scrutiny after releasing a TikTok video in which she accuses President Donald Trump of indirectly causing the catastrophic flash floods in central Texas. The disaster, which saw the Guadalupe River surge dramatically, led to the loss of at least 80 lives, with many individuals still missing.
In her video, O'Donnell suggests that Trump's policies have significantly weakened the government's ability to provide critical weather warnings. She specifically targets GOP supporters, stating, “Shame on every GOP sycophant who’s listening and following the disastrous decisions of this mentally incapacitated POTUS.” Her remarks have sparked a widespread backlash, particularly among meteorologists, emergency personnel, and political figures who have been quick to defend the National Weather Service and its preparedness for the tragic event.
CBS Austin meteorologist Avery Tomasco took to social media to defend the National Weather Service, emphasizing the timeliness and accuracy of the flood warnings. “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 have also stepped in to clarify that there have been no recent budget cuts to the National Weather Service that could have impacted its operations. They further confirmed that the agency's emergency alert systems were fully operational during the storm.
The political dimension of O'Donnell's accusations has not gone unnoticed. Rep. Chip Roy (R-TX), whose district includes the areas affected by the flooding, condemned the actress's remarks as politically motivated and lacking sensitivity to the ongoing crisis. During a Fox News interview, Roy said, “We’re still trying to find little girls, still trying to find adults out here. Only in D.C., only in the political world, are they already finger pointing.”
O'Donnell's recent move to Ireland, following through on her pledge to leave the U.S. if Trump won reelection, has also been a point of contention. Her continued social media presence and comments about the flood have drawn sharp criticism, especially in Texas where recovery efforts are still in full swing.
Some climate activists have mirrored O'Donnell's concerns regarding environmental deregulation; however, no direct link has been established between President Trump's legislation and any failure in emergency response. Officials have pointed to the severe rainfall as the primary cause of the flooding, insisting that emergency protocols were followed correctly.
Local authorities continue to focus on the recovery operations. As of Sunday night, search-and-rescue teams are tirelessly working to locate survivors, with dozens of individuals remaining unaccounted for.
