Rosie O'Donnell has defended questioning if Barron Trump is autistic by explaining that her own daughter has the condition and that she recognizes the signs.

The comedian penned an emotional message to fans on her website on Saturday after sparking fury among Twitter followers earlier in the week when she shared a video which suggested the president-elect's 10-year-old son is autistic.

Insisting that her post was 'from the heart', she said it had 'nothing' to do with her old foe Donald Trump.

'I have no ill will for his children or any children,' said O'Donnell, adding that her own daughter, three-year-old Dakota, was diagnosed with high functioning autism in September.

The row began on Monday when O'Donnell shared an anti-bullying video of Trump's son. It speculated that he may be autistic based on the way he clapped during an appearance at the Republican National Convention in July.

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Rosie O'Donnell defended speculating if Barron Trump is autistic on Saturday, explaining that she had become 'immersed' in spotting symptoms since her three-year-old daughter Dakota (above together) was diagnosed with the condition earlier this year

The row began on Monday when O'Donnell shared an anti-bullying video which speculated that the president-elect's 10-year-old son may have the condition

It was uploaded by YouTube user James Hunter under the title 'Is Barron Trump Autistic? #StopTheBullying' and has over 2million views since it was first shared on November 11.

Reposting the video, O'Donnell wrote: ' Barron Trump autistic? If so - what an amazing opportunity to bring attention to the AUTISM epidemic.'

She was inundated by angry parents and social media users who described the post as 'evil'. Many said it was a new low in her ongoing, public spat with Trump.

'Rosie, as a parent of a child with autism - I am extremely insulted. This wasn't meant to help raise awareness. Just plain cruel,' said one.

'I am the mom of an 11 yr old with ASD and I am in tears that Rosie did this!! Shame on her!!'

'Is Rosie O'Donnell really going after Barron Trump? That's low even for her. Attacking children bc you don't like their parent (s) is wrong.

'I think it's disgusting and evil what Rosie O'Donnell said about Trump's son. It's one thing to attack a politician but it's evil to attack their children,' others fumed.

Among apparent 'signs' of autism that were pointed out by the video was Barron's style of clapping during his father's appearance at the Republican National Convention

The video, which has been viewed 2million times, implored social media users not to 'bully' Barron. It said his straight-face during his father's acceptance of the nomination was another indicator of autism

O'Donnell later said that she has 'no ill will' for any of Trump's children

On Saturday, O'Donnell however said the post was well-wished and entirely independent of her political beliefs.

'My 3.5 yr old daughter dakota was diagnosed in September with HFA – high functioning autism...

'When I saw the anti bullying video that mentioned Barron, it spoke to the symptoms many ASD kids have. It was educational and informational.

'This autism subject had nothing to do with Donald though i admit he does trigger me in all ways.

'I have no ill will for his children or any children and if u knew anything about me u would know that (sic).'

ROSIE O'DONNELL EXPLAINS ON HER WEBSITE WHY SHE SHARED VIDEO OF BARRON TRUMP 'H ere is how it went down. My 3.5 yr old daughter Dakota was diagnosed in September with HFA – high functioning autism. I have been immersed in that world/reality since. learning – reading – asking questions, It’s all autism – all the time for the newly diagnosed as we try to grab onto anything to keep us standing. The knowledge we r not alone, there r others living this too. 'When I saw the anti bullying video that mentioned Barron it spoke to the symptoms many ASD kids have it was educational and informational. These symptoms so many do not understand– I thought – how amazing IF it is true. 'IF it is true – I tweeted from my heart. It would help so much with the autism epidemic. 1 in 55 kids is an epidemic. Donald and I agree on that and not much else. 'I feel he is a clear and present danger but this autism subject had nothing to do with Donald. Though i admithe does trigger me in all ways. 'I have no ill will for his children –or any children –and if u knew anything about me –u would know that. Donald does not have the power to change the facts to re write history so speak true – stand tall. THE WORLD IS WATCHING. 'For those who felt me a horror what can i say humans we try our very best and fail often. Peace out as we try to save democracy from this madman who thinks OUR country is his.' Advertisement

Twitter and Facebook users were quick to criticize the comedian for her tweet

In a separate tweet, she said: 'I didn't make the video, I watched it, and I found it compelling.

'Not my movie clip. Lots of us, who raise autistic children, notice things many would miss. Somethings felt familiar.'

She added the hashtag 'NoshameAUTISM'.

The video bases its assumption of Barron's health on observations of his behavior throughout his father's campaign.

The Trump family has never spoken on the matter. His representatives did not respond to requests for comment early on Sunday morning.

O'Donnell shared various tweets - seen above - over the past week, defending herself for sharing the video

O'Donnell responded by explaining that she saw similarities in Barron's behavior to that of her daughter, Dakota (above)

O'Donnell regularly shares photographs of her daughter on social media. Dakota was born in 2013 and is the comedian's third child.

She and former wife Michelle Rounds adopted Dakota in 2013. The pair divorced in 2015.

In February, before her daughter was diagnosed with the condition, O'Donnell was slammed by autism groups for joking during a stand-up set that she would 'trade in' her teenagers for 'autistic triplets'.

She previously wrote a book about her 16-year-old son Blake's struggle with Auditory Processing Disorder which affects the ability to distinguish between sounds.

O'Donnell has four older children, Vivienne, Chelsea and Blake (above) and Parker. She previously wrote a book about her son Blake's struggle with Auditory Processing Disorder

Trump and O'Donnell kicked off their bitter feud long before the November 8 election

Trump and O'Donnell kicked off their bitter feud long before the November 8 election.

It began in 2006 when O'Donnell was a host on The View and continued for years.

Throughout his campaign for the White House, O'Donnell regularly took swipes at the president-elect.

The 70-year-old has labelled her a 'fat pig', 'slob' and 'total degenerate' over the years and even brought her up in the presidential debates.

When Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton accused Trump of sexism during the debate at Hofstra University, New York, he took the opportunity to take another jab at O’Donnell.

WHAT IS AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER? Autism is a general term for a group of complex disorders of brain development. It is characterized by difficulties with interacting socially, communicating verbally and non-verbally and repetitive behaviors. The most obvious signs of autism tend to show between two and three years of age and they affect daily functioning. Around one in 68 American children are on the autism spectrum, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The main autism symptoms are social deficits, language impairment and repetitive behaviors. While there is no cure for autism, there are therapies and behavioral interventions designed to remedy specific symptoms and can improve those symptoms. Advertisement

'This is a man who has called women pigs, slobs and dogs,' Clinton said.

Clinton did not mention O’Donnell but Trump responded using her name, implying she was the only woman he’d ever verbally attacked.

'Somebody who's been very vicious to me, Rosie O'Donnell – I said very tough things to her. And I think everybody would agree that she deserves it, and nobody feels sorry for her,' Trump said.

O’Donnell hit back at Trump after the debate calling him an ‘orange anus’.

At the time O’Donnell responded via Twitter saying ‘he will never be President’ before tweeting a link to a clip from The View in 2006 that shows her mocking Trump, a TV moment that is believed to be the origin of their feud.