Comedian Margaret Cho says she turned down a role in one of television’s hottest new shows because she feared the Trump administration might detain her at the border, despite being an American citizen
The longtime Trump critic made the startling claim during a recent appearance on the “I Never Liked You” podcast while discussing why she passed on a role in the gay hockey drama “Heated Rivalry.”
Cho said she became convinced her outspoken criticism of ICE and President Donald Trump could somehow result in her being swept into immigration detention.
“Last year, I got a pilot script for a show that I really loved, but it shot in Canada,” Cho explained.
“I was, like, so scared because I’m so vocal about hating ICE and hating this administration,” she continued.
“I was like, I will get detained at the border and I will be put in ICE detention if I go.”
Cho said the fear became so overwhelming that she spent time discussing it with other people before ultimately deciding to reject the role.
“And I was like struggling over it, and I had to talk to all these people about it, and I was super upset, and I said no,” she said.
The role was reportedly tied to “Heated Rivalry,” a breakout streaming hit centered on a secret romance between two professional hockey players.
The series exploded online earlier this year and quickly developed a massive fan base.
Cho admitted she still regrets turning it down. “Like, it kills me,” she claimed. “And it’s all because of Trump.”
The comments immediately triggered ridicule online, with critics pointing out that Cho is an American citizen and would not ordinarily face immigration detention for traveling between the United States and Canada.
Cho did not explain why she believed she specifically would be detained.
The comedian later revealed she has already attempted to get involved in the show’s upcoming second season. “I asked them, we’ll see,” Cho said.
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The bizarre border fears added another chapter to Cho’s long-running anti-Trump activism and increasingly political public commentary.
Over the years, the comedian has become one of Hollywood’s loudest progressive voices on immigration, LGBTQ activism, and Trump-era politics.
Cho previously made headlines for pushing Disney to include more transgender and queer characters in children’s entertainment.
After appearing as an LGBTQ guidance counselor in the Disney+ film “Prom Pact,” Cho argued children’s media should feature more openly queer characters in major roles.
“I would love to see them everywhere,” Cho commented. “I would love to see trans characters and different types of people in roles of, like, Disney princess, Disney prince, and Disney everything.”
“I think this would be really important and it’s a move towards the future,” she added.
Cho has also repeatedly discussed her encounters with Trump long before he entered politics.
Earlier this year, she recalled being invited multiple times to appear on “The Apprentice” because Trump was reportedly a fan of her stand-up comedy.
“I was asked several times to be on it, season after season,” Cho claimed in March.
“Well, Donald Trump really loves you. Please come on,” she recalled producers telling her.
Cho said she briefly appeared during one challenge tied to singer Cyndi Lauper but never became an actual contestant. “I just had a bad feeling about it,” Cho commented.
She later claimed Michael Cohen contacted her during Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign and urged her to become involved politically.
Cho said she found the request baffling.
“Why would I back somebody that — I didn’t know anything about him also, because I’m not a New Yorker,” Cho said. “Why would you ask me that?”
Meanwhile, “Heated Rivalry” has become one of the most talked-about streaming shows of the year.
The series follows two closeted hockey players engaged in a long-running romantic relationship and has generated controversy over its explicit sexual content.
Despite the criticism, the show developed an especially devoted female audience and became a surprise crossover success.
Its popularity even sparked an intense charity auction involving former first lady Jill Biden.
During an LGBT Community Center fundraiser in New York, Biden attempted to bid on a walk-on role in a future season of the show.
According to organizers, the bidding escalated so aggressively that producers eventually authorized two separate walk-on appearances for top donors.
The final bidding reportedly generated $250,000 for the organization.
Biden later joked online about losing the opportunity. “Guess I won’t be heading to the cottage after all — but it was worth a shot!” Biden wrote on X.
Guess I won’t be heading to the cottage after all—but it was worth a shot! What a wonderful evening supporting @LGBTCenterNYC 💕 https://t.co/umwzNLQAfn
— Dr. Jill Biden (@DrBiden) April 17, 2026
Cho’s comments added to years of public criticism she has directed toward Trump and his allies.
Singer Cyndi Lauper, who previously competed on “The Celebrity Apprentice,” also spoke out against Trump earlier this year while reflecting on her experience working around him.
“Well doing that show enabled us to do the ‘Give a D—‘ campaign. I was disappointed when the big thing was learning leadership and learning how to be a good boss,” Lauper said during a CNN interview.
“Working on The Apprentice, there was a very large LGBTQ+ community working for him and helping him be successful,” she continued.
“Then he came out with all the anti-LGBTQ+ stuff and I was surprised because I didn’t think that’s what he was trying to show us in how to be a good boss. That ain’t a good boss.”
Lauper also criticized Elon Musk’s widely debated gesture during Trump’s second inauguration ceremony while discussing Trump’s return to office.
“It was a little disheartening to see the guy do the ‘heil Hitler’ sign,” Lauper said during an interview with The Independent.
At the same time, she acknowledged Trump’s election victory. “But, you know, America voted, and I do believe in the system,” she added.