Have Rosie O'Donnell or Rosie Perez ever commented publicly about Barron Trump?
Executive summary
Rosie O’Donnell publicly speculated that Barron Trump might be autistic in a widely criticized November 2016 tweet that shared a compilation video; her explanation and defense were covered by multiple outlets noting backlash [1] [2]. Available sources in the set do not report Rosie Perez making any public comments specifically about Barron Trump; most items referencing Perez discuss her political activism and reactions to Trump generally [3] [4] [5].
1. Rosie O’Donnell’s 2016 tweet that put Barron in the spotlight
In November 2016 Rosie O’Donnell posted a tweet that linked to a seven‑minute compilation suggesting then‑10‑year‑old Barron Trump showed behaviors “typical in children with autism,” prompting immediate public backlash accusing her of bullying a child [1] [6]. Major entertainment and news outlets reported the post and the controversy, quoting the tweet’s language — “Barron Trump Autistic? If so — what an amazing opportunity to bring attention to the AUTISM epidemic” — and noting the clip’s circulation online [7] [2].
2. O’Donnell’s public defense and explanation
After critics pushed back, O’Donnell defended her action in a longer post and interviews, saying she had been “immersed” in autism research following her daughter’s diagnosis and that the video seemed educational to her; she insisted she had “no ill will” toward Donald Trump’s children [2] [8]. Coverage from Variety and TheWrap reproduced parts of her explanation and cited the large view counts the video accrued, while also reporting the sharp online criticism [2] [8].
3. Apology, criticism and Melania Trump’s reaction — what sources say
Reporting indicates the tweet was widely condemned as an unnecessary spotlight on a child, and some pieces say Melania Trump was “appalled” and framed O’Donnell’s comments as an attack on her son [9]. Several outlets summarized the public response and framed the exchange within the broader, long‑running feud between Rosie O’Donnell and Donald Trump [7] [10]. Sources in the set also note O’Donnell later apologized or sought to explain her intent in follow‑up remarks [11] [8].
4. Rosie Perez — activism and Trump criticism, not Barron commentary
The documents provided show Rosie Perez speaking out about Donald Trump’s policies, rallies, Puerto Rico and campaigning for Democrats [4] [5] [12]. None of the supplied items record Perez commenting specifically about Barron Trump; therefore, available sources do not mention Rosie Perez making public remarks about Barron [4] [5].
5. Context on media treatment and ethical concerns
Coverage of the O’Donnell episode often raised ethical questions about public speculation about a minor’s health without confirmation; Snopes and other fact–checking/entertainment outlets chronicled the tweet, the viral video, and the criticisms that followed [1] [6]. Journalistic accounts highlighted the tension between raising awareness about autism and singling out a child in a politicized context, showing competing viewpoints in the reporting [2] [8].
6. What the sources do not say — limits of this dataset
The provided reporting does not include every tweet, private apology, or later off‑record statement O’Donnell or Perez might have made; it focuses on the 2016 O’Donnell incident and later political activism by Perez. Available sources do not mention any public comment by Rosie Perez about Barron Trump, nor do they supply a comprehensive timeline of every exchange between the Trumps and either Rosie [4] [5].
7. Bottom line for readers
If your question is whether Rosie O’Donnell publicly commented about Barron Trump: yes — she shared a video and asked if he might be autistic in November 2016, attracting extensive coverage and criticism [1] [2]. If your question is whether Rosie Perez has publicly commented about Barron Trump: the supplied reporting does not show any such comments; Perez’s public commentary in these sources concerns broader Trump politics and Puerto Rico [12] [4].