Rosie O’Donnell’s Grovelling Apology to MAGA After School Shooting Tragedy Sparks Media Firestorm

In a stunning reversal, outspoken liberal icon Rosie O’Donnell issued a grovelling public apology to supporters of former President Donald Trump—commonly known as MAGA—after falsely linking them to the tragic Minnesota school shooting. The apology, delivered in a rambling video posted to social media, has ignited a fierce debate about misinformation, media bias, and the politicization of tragedy in America.

A Shocking Tragedy Unfolds

The nation was shaken last week when a gunman opened fire at the Annunciation Catholic School in Minneapolis, Minnesota, during a back-to-school mass. The attack left two children dead, aged just eight and ten, and at least seventeen others injured. The shooter, identified as 23-year-old Robin Westman, a transgender woman formerly known as Robert Westman, was quickly apprehended by law enforcement.

Investigators found a chilling handwritten manifesto detailing Westman’s intent to target children and expressing hatred toward Donald Trump, Israel, Jews, and the Catholic Church. The shooter’s weapons were inscribed with the words “Kill Donald Trump,” a fact omitted by many initial media reports.

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Rosie O’Donnell’s Viral Accusation

In the immediate aftermath, Rosie O’Donnell—comedian, actress, and one of MAGA’s most vocal critics—posted a video to TikTok. In it, she claimed the shooter was a “white guy, Republican, MAGA person, white supremacist,” echoing a narrative often seen in coverage of mass shootings. O’Donnell’s video quickly went viral, reaching her millions of followers and stoking outrage against Trump supporters.

However, as details emerged, it became clear O’Donnell’s claims were not only inaccurate but the exact opposite of reality. The shooter was a transgender individual who had expressed violent anti-Trump sentiments.

The Grovelling Apology

Faced with mounting criticism, O’Donnell returned to social media with a markedly different tone. In a rambling apology, she admitted she had not done her “due diligence” before making her emotional statement.

“I said things about the shooter that were incorrect. I assumed, like most shooters, they followed a standard MO and had standard NRA-loving kind of gun people. The truth is, I messed up. And when you mess up, you fess up. I’m sorry. This is my apology video and I hope it’s enough,” O’Donnell said.

Her apology, delivered with visible discomfort and humility, was a rare moment of public contrition from a celebrity who has built her brand on fierce political advocacy.

The Backlash: Media and Commentators Respond

O’Donnell’s apology did little to quell the backlash. Conservative commentators blasted her for spreading misinformation and demonizing millions of Americans based on false assumptions.

Jeff Me, a prominent political analyst, called out O’Donnell’s “nasty behavior” and accused her of “inventing a narrative to demonize MAGA and Donald Trump.” He pointed out that the evidence contradicting O’Donnell’s claims had been available the day of the shooting, yet she chose to promote a misleading story to her audience.

“That’s not just an innocent mistake. It’s blatant misinformation. It’s disingenuous. It’s deceptive. It’s malicious and it’s manipulative,” Me said.

Other media outlets were also criticized for their coverage. Sky News host James Mororrow slammed American media for their “typical cover-up” of the shooter’s identity and motivations, noting that many reports downplayed or ignored the shooter’s transgender status and anti-Trump manifesto.

The Political Spin: Minneapolis Mayor Under Fire

The controversy extended beyond O’Donnell. Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey faced criticism for his response to the tragedy. In a press conference, Frey urged the public “not to scapegoat transgender people,” emphasizing the need for compassion and unity.

“Anybody who is using this as an opportunity to villainize our trans community or any other community out there has lost their sense of common humanity,” Frey declared.

Commentator CJ Pearson slammed the mayor, arguing that his defense of the trans community came at the expense of acknowledging the suffering of the victims and their families. Scott Jennings, another political analyst, accused Frey of belittling people of faith who turned to prayer in the wake of the tragedy.

“To decry their prayers, to belittle their faith, to angrily attack those whose faith fortifies them in their own lives—especially on days like today—my advice, offered humbly, is to shut up for a few hours and try not to offend anyone else as they grieve and recover from this tragic moment,” Jennings said.

The Victims: A Community in Mourning

Amid the political firestorm, the true cost of the tragedy was felt most acutely by the families and community of Annunciation Catholic School. The victims, aged just eight and ten, were attending mass during the first week of school—a time that should have been filled with hope and excitement.

Law enforcement officials confirmed that Westman had attended the school as a child, and his mother worked there. Neighbors described the family as “completely normal,” underscoring the shocking nature of the crime.

Hillary Ford, president and founder of Strowmark, spoke to the media about the horror of the shooting.

“It’s ghastly. There are horrible people in this world. If you look at the manifesto, he talked about wanting to kill children. I can’t even relate to anyone who would ever want to do that,” Ford said.

The Bigger Picture: Media, Misinformation, and Accountability

The fallout from O’Donnell’s apology and the broader media coverage has reignited debates about bias, misinformation, and accountability in American journalism. Critics argue that the rush to politicize tragedies leads to harmful stereotypes and distracts from the facts.

The New York Times, for example, was accused of surrounding its report with “layer after layer of messaging” to steer readers away from uncomfortable conclusions about the shooter’s identity and motivations.

“If you paid attention to the gender issue, they’re saying, ‘Well, don’t do that, because if you do that, you’re right-wing and a conservative activist.’ All this while insisting others politicized the shooting,” said Mororrow.

Lessons Learned: The Danger of Assumptions

Rosie O’Donnell’s apology serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of making assumptions in the heat of tragedy. Her rush to judgment not only spread misinformation but also deepened divisions at a time when the nation needed unity and compassion.

The tragedy at Annunciation Catholic School is a reminder that violence can come from unexpected quarters and that the search for meaning and accountability must be rooted in facts, not political agendas.

Conclusion: Moving Forward

As Minneapolis and the nation mourn the loss of innocent lives, the hope is that lessons will be learned—not only about gun violence and mental health, but also about the responsibility of public figures and the media to report the truth.

Rosie O’Donnell’s grovelling apology may have been a rare moment of humility, but the damage caused by misinformation lingers. In a world where narratives can spread faster than facts, the need for careful, accurate reporting has never been greater.

The tragedy in Minneapolis is a stark reminder: before we speak, we must seek the truth. And when we err, we must own our mistakes. Only then can we begin to heal.

What’s your take? Did Rosie O’Donnell’s apology go far enough? Should media figures face consequences for spreading misinformation? Join the conversation below.