Overview: Former President Donald Trump called Robert De Niro a “Wacko” following the actor’s appearance at a Biden campaign event outside the Manhattan courthouse where Trump’s hush-money trial is taking place. De Niro’s speech harshly criticized Trump and expressed fears about the future of American freedoms under another Trump presidency.
Why It Matters: The altercation highlights the intensifying political rhetoric as the 2024 election approaches, reflecting broader concerns about the preservation of American freedoms and governance.
Who It Impacts: This issue primarily impacts American voters who are concerned about the implications of the 2024 election on the nation’s political and civil freedoms.
Former President Donald Trump has lashed out at actor Robert De Niro, calling him a “Wacko” after De Niro made a fiery appearance at a Biden campaign event in New York. The event took place outside the Manhattan courthouse where Trump’s hush-money trial continued on Tuesday.
De Niro, invited by the Biden campaign, took the opportunity to deliver a scathing critique of Trump. Speaking to the press behind a podium, the 80-year-old actor warned that American freedoms would be at risk if Trump were to win the upcoming election. “Under Trump, this kind of government will perish from the Earth. I don’t mean to scare you. No, no, wait, maybe I do mean to scare you. If Trump returns to the White House, you can kiss these freedoms goodbye that we all take for granted,” De Niro stated. He further emphasized, “And elections? Forget about them. That’s over, that’s done. If he gets in, I can tell you right now, he will never leave. He will never leave. You know that. He will never leave.”
Bob DeNiro has become so unglued, he thinks "government will perish from the earth" if President Trump is re-elected pic.twitter.com/OVIVUy27Qu
— RNC Research (@RNCResearch) May 28, 2024
De Niro urged Americans to vote for Biden to preserve their freedoms and humanity, underscoring that “we don’t have a choice” in the matter. Trump responded to De Niro’s remarks on Truth Social late Tuesday night, criticizing the actor’s mental and physical state and accusing him of suffering from “TRUMP DERANGEMENT SYNDROME.” Trump wrote, “I never knew how small, both mentally and physically, Wacko Former Actor Robert De Niro was. Today, De Niro, who suffers from an incurable case of TRUMP DERANGEMENT SYNDROME, commonly known in the medical community as TDS, was met, outside the Courthouse, with a force far greater than the Radical Left – MAGA.”
The former president didn’t hold back in his critique, saying, “Robert, whose movies, artistry, and brand have gone WAY DOWN IN VALUE since he entered the political arena at the request of Crooked Joe Biden, looked so pathetic and sad out there. Where have you gone Joe DiMaggio!!!”
The event also saw De Niro engaging with Trump supporters outside the courthouse, leading to heated exchanges. According to POLITICO, De Niro shouted at the supporters, calling them “gangsters,” to which one individual retorted that the actor was “washed up.” In response, De Niro reportedly yelled back, “F*** you!”
This press event featuring De Niro signals a potential shift in the Biden campaign’s strategy as Trump’s criminal trial nears its end. Historically, President Biden has remained silent on Trump’s hush-money case, but recent reports from POLITICO indicate that Biden may soon address the trial publicly. According to sources familiar with the internal discussions, Biden plans to speak from the White House once the jury reaches a verdict.
The change in strategy comes at a time when Trump is leading in most polls, including in key battleground states. This polling advantage has put additional pressure on the Biden campaign to respond more aggressively. “President Trump’s numbers continue to rise, and the best that Biden can do is roll out a washed-up actor,” commented Trump adviser Jason Miller.
As the trial progresses and the election draws closer, the political climate is expected to become even more contentious, with both sides ramping up their efforts to sway public opinion.
