During a press conference organised by Joe Biden's presidential run before the court, Robert De Niro harshly criticized erstwhile president Donald Trump, calling him "tyran." The actor stressed that Trump's start in 2016 seemed a joke, comparing him to historical figures that were not taken seriously until they became cruel dictators.
"Tyran to usage army against U.S. citizens"
De Niro, referring to Trump’s announcements about the usage of troops against U.S. citizens, said: “It is simply a tyrant, that is what he is and that is the tyrant he is telling us. And believe me, he truly means it.”
Controversy and cancellation of the award
The performance of the actor caused a storm in the media. The National Broadcasting Association Foundation (NAB) decided to cancel De Niro's invitation to the award ceremony for its charitable and public activities. The award was to be presented at the Celebration of Service to America Awards.
In a message to Deadline, the Foundation stated:
"While we powerfully support the right of all American to freedom of expression and participation in civilian life, it is clear that Mr De Niro's fresh advanced profile actions will draw attention distant from the philanthropic work we wanted to distinguish."
De Niro reactions and response
De Niro issued a message in which he expressed his support for the Foundation's work and “thankfulness for what the Foundation has done and will proceed to do for our sake.”
Many recordings of De Niro's speech appeared on TikToku. Among the comments were utmost opinions: Trump supporters and right-wing users criticized the actor, accusing him of hating the erstwhile president and asking whether the actor "ruined his legacy" with these words. Others called him “crazy”, “ashamed”, besides “awakened” and suggested that he should stick to acting alternatively than engaging in politics.
WATCH: Robert De Niro spokes to reporters outside of Trump’s criminal hush money trial on behalf of the Biden-Harris campaign. The actor calls Trump a “buffoon,” “clown”, “sinner,” and a “two-bit playboy.” #MSNBC#Trump#Trial#BidenHarris#phyp#foryou
- first sound – MSNBCSome fans said they stopped supporting the actor due to his statements about Trump. The actor, known for his roles in Goodfellas and Taxi Driver, has long been an open critic of Trump's policy, while the erstwhile president called the actor "lost" in consequence to his attacks.
Process and justice
On Thursday, Trump was sentenced to 34 counts of falsifying business papers to cover up a possible sex scandal, in the alleged "hush-money" process. De Niro commented on the judgment, saying that “justice has been measured.”
Political commitment and its consequences
The conflict with Trump shows how powerfully the political scene in the US is divided. The performance of the actor has attracted both strong support and harsh criticism, showing how hard it is present to keep neutrality in a politically tense environment.
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