On-air feud erupts between Rosie and The Donald

The uproar over Miss USA's partying has spawned a feud between real estate mogul Donald Trump and talk show host Rosie O'Donnell.

O'Donnell, the popular but brash co-host ofABC's morning talk show The View, criticized Trump on-air Wednesday following a news conference he held with Miss USA, Tara Conner.

Conner, who turned 21 this week, has been at the centre of a scandal since rumours surfaced last week that she had been seen in bars in New York City, where she has been living since she won the title in April, even though she was underage.

Ata news conference on Tuesday, she admitted to drinking as a minor in New York nightclubs. However, Trump said he would allow Conner to keep her crown provided she enter alcohol rehab.

"She got caught up in the whirlwind of New York," he said at the news conference.

"It's a story that has happened many times before to many women and many men who came to the Big Apple. They wanted their slice of the Big Apple and they found out it wasn't so easy."

On The View on Wednesday, O'Donnell pointed out that Trump himself has had a questionable past.

"Left the first wife, had an affair, left the second wife, had an affair. Had kids both times, but he's the moral compass for 20-year-olds in America," she said to a roar of laughter from the in-studio audience.

She continued by making claims about his personal financial situation and called him"one of those snake-oil salesmen." Later, on her personal website, she also posted comments about Trump.

Trump fires back

Trump, owner of the Miss Universe Organization which includes the Miss USA and Miss Teen USA pageants shot back later Wednesday during an appearance on entertainment show The Insider, calling O'Donnell "disgusting both inside and out."

He also criticized her now defunct The Rosie O'Donnell Show, her failed magazine venture, Rosie, and made repeated references to her weight.

"Probably I'll sue her because it would be fun. I'd like to take some money out of her fat-ass pockets," he added.

On Thursday's edition of The View, O'Donnell declined to take the feud further whenprompted byher co-hosts. However, Trump continued his rant against her during an interview with radio show Good Day L.A.

The View creator Barbara Walters and her co-producer Bill Geddie have refused to take sides in the feud.

"Both Rosie and Donald are high-spirited, opinionated people," the two said in a statement issued Wednesday.

"Donald has been a friend of The View for many years and Rosie, of course, is our enormously popular moderator. We cherish them both and hope the new year brings calm and peace."

Marked by controversy

O'Donnell's relatively new stint as the moderator on The Viewhas been marked by controversy, including when actor Danny DiVito allegedly appeared drunk on the show and O'Donnell offended Chinese viewers when she jokingly mimicked speaking Chinese.

Trump, who stars in the reality TV show The Apprentice, is also no stranger to controversial public outbursts and feuds.

In February, Trump engaged in a heated on-air feud with homemaking diva Martha Stewart over the demise of her own short-lived version of The Apprentice.

Repercussions for teen beauty queen

Miss USA's underage drinking scandal has also touched on the current Miss Teen USA, Katie Blair.On Wednesday, Mothers Against Drunk Driving announced it was severing its ties with Blair, who was reportedly spotted partying with Connor in New York.

"We do not feel, at this time, that Ms. Blair can be an effective spokesperson on underage drinking and will not ask her to represent MADD in future initiatives," company spokeswoman Heidi Castle said in a statement.

A spokesperson for the Miss Universe Organization said Blair is not in danger of losing her crown.