Rosie O'Donnell Slams RFK Jr. After COVID And Autism Impact Comparison
The comedian is raining down heavily on the politician for his insensitive comments comparing the effects of autism and COVID-19 on the American population.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. famously dropped his presidential ambition last year to throw his weight behind Donald Trump's campaign and earn him the top seat in the Oval Office.
Donnell replied to Robert's comment via a post on her Instagram. The comedian shared a selfie with her 12-year-old autistic daughter, Clay, who wore a red sweater and a beanie to match.
She accompanied the picture with another slide, spreading more positive awareness about autism. The slide came with the words: "Autism, the one where being different is what makes you beautiful."
In the caption, Donnell gave RFK a piece of her mind, writing, "robert kennedy u should be ashamed of urself #autismawarenessmonth." The post has garnered over 17,000 likes and hundreds of comments supporting her stance on RFK's statement.
"He's a public health threat and should be fired!" wrote one commenter. Another user stressed that RFK and his peers are not "self-aware enough to feel anything but arrogance."
A third Instagram user noted, "He should focus his expertise on addiction since that is something he is familiar with. Clearly, he knows nothing about autism."
As noted by PEOPLE, Robert expressed in a recent interview on The Cats Roundtable radio show that the impact of autism on American lives surpasses that of COVID-19.
He emphasized that while COVID primarily affected older populations, autism begins to impact children at a crucial stage in their development. The government official stressed that the ailment significantly affects their lives, families, and communities.
The secretary highlighted the substantial economic burden of autism, predicting that it could cost the economy up to $1 trillion annually by 2035, although he did not provide sources for this claim.
His remarks followed a press conference held on April 16, where he expressed the view that autism "destroys families," suggesting that affected individuals would struggle to achieve typical life milestones.
His statements have drawn criticism from autism advocates, who argue that such rhetoric perpetuates damaging stereotypes and negative perceptions about individuals with autism and their potential contributions to society.
Alison Singer, president of the Autism Science Foundation also criticized remarks made by the secretary. According to her, Robert's comments suggested that individuals with autism lead worthless lives, a conclusion she termed that "couldn't be further from the truth."
A recent CDC study revealed that one in 31 children in the U.S. is diagnosed with autism by age eight, marking an increase over the past two decades. However, experts believe that this rise is not indicative of more children developing autism but rather reflects improved diagnostic capabilities.
Dr. Alex Kolevzon, a child and adolescent psychiatrist at the Seaver Autism Center in New York City, reassured parents, stating that the situation does not signify an epidemic of autism.
As noted by The Blast, Robert's decision to align himself with Trump during his campaign was met with immediate disapproval from his family.
In a joint statement, his relatives, including Kathleen Kennedy Townsend, Courtney Kennedy, Kerry Kennedy, Chris Kennedy, and Rory Kennedy, made it clear that his choice did not reflect their values.
They emphasized their support for Kamala Harris and Tim Walz, advocating for an America rooted in hope, individual freedom, and national pride. They described Robert's endorsement of Trump as a betrayal of their family's principles, dubbing it a "sad ending to a sad story."
Additionally, Jack Schlossberg, John F. Kennedy's grandson and Robert's cousin, criticized Robert's decision on social media, labeling him a sell-out.
Last August in Arizona, the politician announced that he would suspend his campaign. According to him, he no longer saw a "realistic path of electoral victory" due to relentless censorship and media control.
He expressed concern for his staff and volunteers, emphasizing that he could not justify the extended hours and financial demands on his donors without a clear chance of winning.
Despite the suspension, he confirmed that his name would still appear on ballots in most states and revealed his intention to support Trump in the upcoming election.
This decision marked a significant shift in his political stance, as just three months prior, he had openly challenged Trump to a debate at the Libertarian National Convention.
Trump's response was to label him a "Democrat Plant" and a "Radical Left Liberal" on his social media platform, Truth Social.
How will RFK Jr. respond to the clapbacks?
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


New York Post
3 minutes ago
- New York Post
Hulk Hogan's son, Nick, speaks out on father's death: ‘Would do anything to have him back'
Hulk Hogan's son, Nick, penned an emotional tribute to the wrestling icon, his 'hero' and his 'best friend' following Hogan's death Thursday. 'This has been overwhelming and extremely difficult,' Nick Hogan, whose real last name is Bollea, wrote in an Instagram post that featured 20 pictures of the pair spanning decades. 'Hearing so many kind words and stories about my dad's life, interactions and experiences with everyone has been incredible and comforting. My dad was the most incredible person I've ever known and will always be my hero.' 4 A young Nick Hogan (l.) and his father are pictured. Screengrab via Instagram/nickhogan Hulk Hogan, whose real name was Terry Bollea, died at 71 years old following what Clearwater, Fla. police described as a 'serious medical issue,' with a 911 call being placed Thursday morning for cardiac arrest. Hogan reportedly dealt with health issues in the weeks leading up to his death. 4 Nick Hogan (r.) poses with his father. Screengrab via Instagram/nickhogan 4 Nick Hogan (l.) poses for a picture with his father. Screengrab via Instagram/nickhogan 'I spent a lot of time with him the past few years after moving back to Florida to be closer to him and I am so grateful for those memories,' Nick Hogan wrote in his Instagram post. 'They are the best moments in my life. I would do anything to have him back but I know now that he will always be watching over me. I will always remember the lessons and advice he gave me and carry on in a way that I know would make him proud. 'Thank you for being the best dad in the world and thank you for being my best friend. I love you so much Big Dog and I will miss you forever.' 4 Nick Hogan (r.) is picured with his father Hulk Hogan Screengrab via Instagram/nickhogan Hulk Hogan and his ex-wife, Linda, shared two kids — Nick and their daughter, Brooke — together, and the couple filed for divorce in 2007. All four of them starred on the 'Hogan Knows Best' VH1 reality show from 2005-07. Nick Hogan's wife, Tana Lee, posted a picture of their wedding day in January on Instagram following Hulk Hogan's death, as tributes from around the wrestling community poured in for the polarizing individual who shaped the rise of the World Wrestling Federation.


UPI
4 minutes ago
- UPI
Trump announces U.S. deal with European Union to impose 15% tariff
U.S. President Donald Trump waves to the media while playing golf at Turnberry Golf Club in Scotland on Sunday. He later met with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. Photo by Hugo Philpott/UPI | License Photo July 27 (UPI) -- President Donald Trump on Sunday announced 15% tariffs on most foreign goods from the European Union, down from the threatened 30%, as part of a trade agreement with the 27-nation bloc. Trump announced the deal at his Turnberry Isle Country Club in Scotland after his public session with European Commission President von der Leyen. Trump said the European Union won't impose new tariffs on U.S. imports. During the meeting with the media, both leaders said the chance of a deal was 50-50. "You are known as a tough negotiator and dealmaker," von der Leyen told Trump, with reporters on hand. Leyen said the agreement "will bring stability. It will bring predictability. That's very important for our businesses on both sides of the Atlantic." Trump said the deal was "satisfactory to both sides." The European Union is the largest U.S. trading partner with $605 billion in goods yearly. The products are mainly drugs and pharmaceuticals, primarily from Ireland, as well as aircraft and heavy machinery, mainly from France and Germany. The 50% tariffs on steel, like most other nations, would remain and more duties could happen for pharmaceutical products, as well as semiconductors. Trump has also threatened a 200% tariffs on any drugs imported to the U.S. Trump said the deal would be "great for cars" and agriculture. Trump has previously noted that few American cars are sold in Europe. On April 2, he said he would impose a 20% duty against the EU, with most trading nations imposed a baseline 10%. He paused the retaliatory tariffs on April 9 for 90 days. In a letter to EU nations on July 12, the U.S. president threatened 30% retaliatory tariffs to take effect on Aug. 1. "Imposing 30% tariffs on E.U. exports would disrupt essential transatlantic supply chains, to the detriment of businesses, consumers and patients on both sides of the Atlantic," von der Leyen said after Trump's letter. Letters to other nations have threatened tariffs as high as 50%, including to Brazil. The Trump administration has been negotiating with other nations, including reaching deals with China (30%), Japan (15%), Indonesia (19%) and Vietnam (20%). Britain, which is not part of the European Union, has a reduction in some tariffs of 10% on up to 100,000 vehicles and 25% on steel and aluminum. Last year, the average U.S. tariffs on imports from the EU was 1.2%, according to Capital Economics' chief Europe economist. The deal with the European Union is part of a broader trade agreement. EU had a $58.7 billion overall trade surplus with the U.S. in 2024. For goods, it was $168.6 billion but the deficit was $126 billion in services trade. "The European Union is going to agree to purchase from the United States $750 billion worth of energy," Trump said. The E.U. would also invest $600 billion into the United States. In 2024, the bloc bought nearly $400 billion in goods. Michael Brown, a senior research strategist at British-based Pepperstone brokerage, told The New York Times that U.S. defense companies likely will emerge as winners from the deal.
Yahoo
31 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Atlanta Dream star Allisha Gray has an interesting HBCU connection
The post Atlanta Dream star Allisha Gray has an interesting HBCU connection appeared first on ClutchPoints. Atlanta Dream star Allisha Gray has enjoyed an incredible season, earning her a spot in last week's All-Star Game, a special moment she shared with her sister. Gray's sister Ashley was among several other members of Allisha's family to travel to Indianapolis to see her partake in the All-Star festivities. Via her father and sister, Gray shares a very deep HBCU connection. Ashley Gray is a basketball player at Alabama State University. She's entering her senior season with the Hornets, a team that she committed to in November 2021. Allisha was in attendance when Ashley made her commitment and posted about it on her Instagram page. 'Congrats to my Lil sis for signing with Alabama State today for basketball!! I'm so proud of you! Love you,' she said on her Instagram account. Ashley was a standout in high school. She earned several honors, including being named First-Team All-State and scoring 1,000 career points. Fittingly, she won the Allisha Gray MVP Award. She's been a contributor to the Lady Hornets team throughout her time with the team, logging nine starts last season. But Ashley isn't the only HBCU alumnus in the Gray family. Her dad, Allen Gray, is an alumnus of West Virginia State University. While at the institution, he ran track and played basketball while working toward his degree. In an interview with The Next Hoops, Gray spoke about how her family has been supportive of her WNBA journey. 'They're going to get on that road for every home game,' she said. 'That's been one of my favorite things about playing in Atlanta. Knowing I can also drive home to see them on off days is everything, especially the home-cooked meals.' Being able to play for your home state team and get the support from your family is certainly a blessing that has helped Gray become one of the best players in the league. She's currently averaging a career high 18.6 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 3.9 assists for a Dream team that added massive talent to it's roster and looks to enter themselves amongst the contenders in the WNBA. Related: Charlie Ward, Florida A&M in play for four-star recruit Related: Keke Palmer, Shady McCoy & the demand for good 'journalism'