Robert De Niro openly criticized President Donald Trump during an interview on MS NOW with Nicolle Wallace, sharing his strong emotions about the current state of the United States. Speaking on Monday, De Niro urged Americans to resist Trump’s influence, emphasizing the urgent need to save the country amid what he described as a destructive presidency.
Actor Reflects on Divisions and the Need for Unity
As the conversation progressed, De Niro grew visibly emotional when explaining his habit of thanking those who work with him during award ceremonies. He stressed the importance of uplifting people and fostering unity, insisting that division is counterproductive.
“You have to — you have to lift people up,”
De Niro said, his voice wavering.
“You have to bring them together. You can’t divide people, you can’t win that way.”
De Niro Warns of Consequences if America Doesn’t Act
Returning to his critique of Trump’s divisive leadership, De Niro described the current situation as bleak, suggesting it almost seems fated that the nation is facing this challenge.
“It’s a no-win situation, and look what we have, look who we have there, it’s almost like a destiny to have this thing there, destroying… attempting to destroy this country and maybe not even understanding why,”
he said.
“So it’s up to us to protect the country.”
Urgent Plea to Resist and Fight for the Nation’s Future
Wallace acknowledged the emotional weight of De Niro’s words and highlighted the critical moment the U.S. is facing, wondering if the country’s democratic traditions might be threatened. When asked if he thought the nation could be heading in the wrong direction, De Niro admitted uncertainty but insisted on the necessity of resistance.
“All I know is people have to have to resist, resist, resist,”
he urged.
“There’s no easy way. It’s not going to come to you easy. You know, there’s a time when you know in your own life and your own survival, you better do this. You better jump and run through the fire because if you don’t run through the fire, you’re not getting out, and that’s what we have to do.”
De Niro’s Continued Opposition to Trump’s Leadership
De Niro’s frustration with Trump is longstanding. In an interview last May with The Guardian, he described Trump as a bully who must be stood up to.
“The man is a bully, and you can’t let bullies win. If a bully comes for your lunch money on Monday, he’s going to ask for more on Tuesday. You have to stand up. And I wouldn’t want to look at myself if I didn’t,”
De Niro stated, highlighting his motivation for vocal opposition.
