Rosie O’Donnell and Elisabeth Hasselbeck infamously clashed over the George W Bush administration’s policies regarding the Iraq War on The View in May 2007, and Rosie sometimes rewatches that fight
Rosie O’Donnell sometimes rewatches her infamous clash with Elisabeth Hasselbeck on The View to remind herself what the on-air fight felt like.
The 64-year-old comedienne had a heated exchange with 49-year-old TV personality Elisabeth over the George W. Bush administration’s policies regarding the Iraq War on the ABC talk show in May 2007, and their heated exchange played out on a split-screen shot.
PEOPLE magazine asked Rosie: “Who is your most and least favourite co-host during the time on The View?”, and she replied: “Listen, it’s known that me and Elisabeth Hasselbeck did not have a great ending to our friendship, so I would say that was the most problematic, perhaps.
“But we did get along right up until the end, and then it blew up on national TV. Sometimes I watch that one.”
After Rosie admitted she “can’t watch” the interview she did with her idol, 84-year-old music legend Barbra Streisand in 1997, which still makes her cry, the actress added: “But if the Elisabeth Hasselbeck fight is on, I’m like, ‘Let me try to remember what this felt like.’ You know?”
Rosie revealed 83-year-old comedienne Joy Behar as her top co-host on The View.
She explained: “My favourite probably is Behar. I like Joy Behar. We did stand up together for many years, and she used to call me ‘Little One,’ because I was a young comic in my 20’s.”
Rosie would be up for guest hosting The View in the future.
The Tarzan star said: “Next season is the 30th anniversary, and Ana Navarro mentioned that when I did her podcast recently. I think that I would, and just be a guest.
“I do think that for me, it’s not the best use of my time or talent to be arguing about politics with people, just in general, as a form of entertainment. It’s not where I shine the most.
“But I am a very patriotic American. I love this country.”
In October 2025, Rosie, who was a host on The View from 2006 until 2007 before briefly returning in 2014 and 2015, alleged that the production decision to have the split-screen during her and Elisabeth’s bust-up had been planned in advance, which the latter strongly disagrees with.
Appearing on the Australian radio show Ricki-Lee, Tim, and Joel, Rosie claimed: “Our producer [was] not an on-the-fly kind of guy. He wasn’t like, ‘Mr. Let’s-Go-To-a-Split-Screen.’ That was prepared. The whole thing, I think, was a setup.”
Last month, Rosie admitted she is “still annoyed” about The View’s producers having switched to a split-screen shot showing her and Elisabeth arguing.
Appearing on Bravo’s Watch What Happens Live With Andy Cohen, the 58-year-old host asked Rosie: “Are you still annoyed that the director went to the split screen?”
The Flintstones alum replied: “Yeah, I’m still annoyed. Believe me. Mommy knows how to hold a grudge.”
Rosie O’Donnell sometimes rewatches her infamous clash with Elisabeth Hasselbeck on The View
