Even since leaving the Oval Office, Donald Trump has been in and out of court. Currently, the former US President is awaiting verdict on his criminal case that sees him accused of organising hush payments for former adult-film star Stormy Daniels.
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This trial has been full of ups and downs. For instance, Trump was seen seemingly falling asleep which then appeared to be a tactic. Many also noted the absence of the 45th President’s family – notably Melania and Ivanka chose to opt out of the long proceedings.
But, among the noticeable absences, one person’s presence is now making headlines; actor Robert De Niro attended the last day of the trial. The actor’s attendance was everything but discreet and ended up reigniting people’s interest in the long-lasting feud between him and Donald Trump.
Robert De Niro attends Donald Trump’s trial
As stated above, on Tuesday 28 May, actor Robert De Niro attended Donald Trump’s trial. The actor was not there out of his own curiosity but went ‘on behalf of the Joe Biden-Kamala Harris presidential campaign’ explains Newsweek.
De Niro has been working with the Biden-Harris campaign as an adviser leading him to give a passionate speech at the Trump trial. According to Newsweek and to videos shared on social media, the speech was continually and vehemently interrupted by Trump supporters.
In the videos, the former President’s fans can be heard shouting at De Niro and the two retired police officers who were with him. A continuous car horn can also be heard in the background.
The crowd appeared to profoundly dislike what De Niro had to say about the January 6 riot that took place in 2021. As the actor was walking away after his speech, angry supporters followed and yelled insults at the actor who, at some point, chose to retaliate.
In the video shared on X by Kristen Eskow, the actor said:
You're not going to intimidate. That's what Trump does. They try to intimidate. And we're going to fight back!
He also proceeded to swear at Trump's supporters using the ‘f-word’.
The actor’s clash with the crowd continued when he turned around and told one man:
You are gangsters.
Donald Trump responds to De Niro
It comes with very little surprise that Donald Trump caught wind of De Niro’s words. Indeed, in his address in front of the court house, the actor’s speech got pretty personal — he referred to Trump as a ‘clown’ and a ‘grubby real estate hustler masquerading as a big shot’. Later in the speech, while warning people about a possible reelection, the actor said, as reported by Forbes:
this person can’t run the country. [Trump] wants to destroy not only the city, but the country…and eventually, he could destroy the world.
Adding:
We’d forgotten the lessons of history that showed us other clowns who weren’t taken seriously until they became vicious dictators.
Very strong words which got a response from Trump himself. On Truth Social the 46th President also got personal and wrote:
I never knew how small, both mentally and physically, Wacko Former Actor Robert De Niro was.
The post ended on the same note:
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.
Robert De Niro and Donald Trump’s feud
These exchanges are not isolated incidents as Donald Trump and Robert De Niro have been feuding for years. Already in 2019, The Guardian wrote an article on it detailing its history. According to the publication, the actor has been a vehement critic of Trump ever since the former businessman ran in the 2016 Presidential election.
That same year, Robert De Niro called Trump ‘totally nuts’ and explained that he just couldn’t understand how people could ‘like’ him. If that wasn’t enough, just a few months later, in September 2016, De Niro took part in a campaign video urging people to vote. The Guardian reports that the Taxi Driver star didn’t hold back:
He’s so blatantly stupid. He’s a punk. He’s a dog. He’s a pig. A con. A bullshit artist. A mutt who doesn’t know what he’s talking about [...] I’d like to punch him in the face
Once Trump was elected, the British publication noted that De Niro changed his tone and tried to opt for measure and open mindedness. That didn’t last though. In May 2017, in a speech, the actor vehemently criticised Trump’s immigration policy. Using the arts as a lens through which to talk about the presidential decision he said:
The administration’s mean-spiritedness towards our art and entertainment is an expression of their mean-spirited attitude about people who want that art and entertainment, people who also want and deserve decent wages, a fair tax system, a safe environment, education for their children and healthcare for all,
In 2018, De Niro opted for a simple phrase while at the Tony awards: ‘F**k Trump.’
By that point, the actor had caught Trump’s attention who, in response, called him ‘a very Low IQ individual’.
The list of insults and statements exchanged by the actor and the former president is much longer and as the presidential election is looming closer, it will only become longer.
Read more:
⋙ Donald Trump's claims that the FBI planned his assassination during the Mar-a-Lago raid debunked
⋙ Donald Trump: Former US President says he is going to sue filmmakers of biopic The Apprentice
⋙ Donald Trump: Did he really ask for a staffer to be 'put to death'? Former Attorney General answers
Sources:
Newsweek: Robert De Niro Clashes With Trump Supporters Outside Court
Forbes: Trump Lashes Out At Robert De Niro After Actor Calls Him A ‘Tyrant’ Outside Courthouse
The Guardian: Robert De Niro v Trump: a complete history of a (mainly one-sided) beef
