Robert De Niro has launched another blistering attack on Donald Trump, claiming the US is no longer a country he can love while the president remains in power. The Oscar-winning actor, 82, made the remarks during the Rise Up, Sing Out concert at New York City’s Town Hall on Sunday, an event organised by the Committee for the First Amendment alongside activist groups No Kings and Indivisible.
Speaking to a packed audience, De Niro compared loving America under Trump’s leadership to an abusive relationship. ‘Our country isn’t so lovable right now,’ he said. ‘I hate to say it, but loving our country is starting to sound like an abused spouse saying they love their abuser.’
The Goodfellas star then launched into a lengthy criticism of both Trump’s administration and Congress, condemning US foreign policy, immigration enforcement, and healthcare reforms. ‘I can’t love a country that starts stupid and inhumane wars,’ he said. ‘I can’t love a country that takes healthcare away from millions of people and uses that money to enrich their pals in the Trump-Epstein class.’ He continued: ‘I can’t love a country that sends out masked militias to shoot citizens in the streets, torture our neighbours and separate families.’
De Niro saved his harshest criticism for the president himself, branding Trump a ‘racist, misogynist, xenophobic tyrant’. ‘Let me just say it,’ he told the cheering crowd. ‘I can’t love the country that’s led by Donald Trump. And a sycophant Congress.’ The comments drew sustained applause from attendees, forcing the actor to pause before continuing his speech.
Despite the fiery rhetoric, De Niro insisted his frustration stemmed from his affection for the United States rather than a rejection of it. ‘For most of my life, of course, I did love this country,’ he said. ‘The United States of America welcomed my immigrant ancestors. It gave me, my family, and my fellow citizens such rich opportunities and extraordinary freedoms.’ The Taxi Driver actor added that he hoped the country could eventually return to those ideals. ‘I want to love my country again. I want my country back.’
The event featured appearances from several high-profile Hollywood figures, including Jane Fonda and Julia Roberts. Roberts urged attendees not to disengage from politics despite the exhausting news cycle. ‘We all feel like, “I can’t turn the news on, I don’t want to hear it,”’ she said. ‘But we have to hear it; we have to face it.’ She also paid emotional tribute to Renee Nicole Goode, an American citizen who was killed by ICE, saying, ‘Her legacy is our responsibility.’ Renee was shot and killed on January 7 as she sat behind the wheel of her car in a residential neighbourhood by immigration officer Jonathan Ross. He fired three times at Ms Goode, a 37-year-old US citizen and mum-of-three, who was not the target of the operation and had tried to drive her SUV away from the scene. The Pretty Woman star encouraged the crowd to remain optimistic, telling them to ‘breathe in all that hope’ and ‘breathe out all that fear.’
Sunday’s speech is the latest in a long line of public clashes between De Niro and Trump. The actor has been one of the president’s most outspoken celebrity critics for years, frequently using interviews, awards ceremonies and political events to condemn his leadership. Last year, following the nationwide No Kings demonstrations, De Niro urged Americans not to stop protesting. ‘We can’t let up,’ he told MSNBC. ‘He does not want to leave the White House. Anybody thinks he’ll do this or that, it’s just deluding themselves.’ Comparing Trump to a schoolyard bully, he added: ‘There’s no other way to face a bully. You have to face him and fight it out and back him off.’
In response, Trump launched into a rant on Truth Social. ‘Robert De Niro another sick and demented person with, I believe, an extremely low IQ, who has absolutely no idea what he is doing or saying – some of which is seriously criminal!’ he began. ‘When I watched him break down in tears last night, much like a child would do, I realised that he may be even sicker than Crazy Rosie O’Donnell, who is right now in Ireland trying to figure out how to come back into our beautiful United States. The only difference between De Niro and Rosie is that she is probably somewhat smarter than him, which isn’t saying much.’ He then added: ‘The good news is that America is now Bigger, Better, Richer and Stronger than ever before, and it’s driving them absolutely crazy!’
De Niro’s latest remarks came on the same day Trump celebrated his 80th birthday, with festivities including the Freedom 250 UFC event held on the White House lawn.
