Robert De Niro has launched a scathing attack on former US President Donald Trump, calling him a “clown”, and warned that he will become a dictator if re-elected.
The actor spoke outside the New York court where Trump is currently standing trial for falsifying business documents to cover up payments, ensuring that adult film actress Stormy Daniels would not tell voters at the 2016 election about an alleged sexual encounter with Mr Trump.
Donald Trump has denied any wrongdoing, or having a sexual encounter with Ms Daniels.
Goodfellas star Robert De Niro has been a long time political activist and long term of Mr Trump.
He has also taken a growing role in a campaign to re-elect President Joe Biden to the White House ahead of the election in November, including starring in a new TV ad for the Democratic Party.
Trump 2016 campaign was “like a joke” – says De Niro
Speaking to reporters outside the New York court, Robert De Niro had a few choice words to describe what he thinks of Mr Trump, including “tyrant” and a “clown”.
“When Trump ran in 2016, it was like a joke”, De Niro said.
He continued: “We have a second chance, and no one is laughing now. This is the time to stop him”.
“If he gets in. I can tell you right now, he will never leave,” De Niro added. “Is that the country we want to live in? Do we want him running this country and saying, ‘I’m not leaving. I’m dictator for life’?”
“The only way to preserve our freedoms and hold on to our humanity is to vote for Joe Biden for president”.
Speaking against a noisy backdrop of pro-Trump protestors, Robert De Niro also accused him of directing an “angry mob” to attack the US Capitol following his election defeat to Joe Biden.
De Niro also said that the Republican “ran and hid in the White House”, while the violence took place, injuring several police officers.
Donald Trump has spoken regularly to TV cameras inside the court, accusing the judge of bias, and alleging that the trial is a political attack on him. He has also repeated claims that the 2020 election was rigged.
“snapped”
At the court, Robert De Niro was flanked by retired officers Michael Fanone and Harry Dunn, two officers who were injured at the Capitol Riots of January 2021.
Harry Dunn is also one of three officers who will campaign for President Biden ahead of the election. They will insist that Trump “snapped” after losing the 2020 election.
Dunn said, “Donald Trump and his unhinged quest for power and retribution pose an existential threat to our democracy”.
“He continues to embrace political violence, going as far as saying there will be a ‘bloodbath’ if he loses again and promising to be a dictator on ‘day one’ and pardon January 6 rioters”.
Last October, Robert De Niro launched a similarly scathing attack on Trump, calling him “evil”. More on this from Nova here.
