In a fervently charged speech shared at The New Republic's Stop Trump Summit in New York City, renowned actor Robert De Niro delivered a blistering critique of former President Donald Trump. The "Killers of the Flower Moon" actor, who has been an outspoken critic of Trump, described the former president as "evil" and likened him to a "wannabe tough guy with no morals or ethics."

De Niro's Take on Trump's Character

De Niro's speech, which he penned but was read out by former Trump administration official Miles Taylor due to the actor's recent positive COVID-19 diagnosis, delved deep into Trump's character. "I've spent a lot of time studying bad men," De Niro's statement began. "Yet there's something different about Donald Trump. When I look at him, I don't see a bad man. Truly. I see an evil one."

Drawing from his experiences in the film industry, De Niro compared Trump to gangsters he had encountered. He noted that while even criminals often have a moral code, Trump appeared to lack one entirely. "He's a wannabe tough guy with no morals or ethics," De Niro continued. "No sense of right or wrong. No regard for anyone but himself."

The actor also touched upon Trump's impact on the nation and New York, his hometown. He emphasized the divisive nature of Trump's leadership, which he believes has caused significant turmoil and put the country in jeopardy. De Niro even drew a parallel between Trump and an abusive father, suggesting that the former president ruled through intimidation and violent behavior.

Social Media Reactions

De Niro's speech quickly became a hot topic on social media platforms, particularly on X, formerly known as Twitter. Many users lauded the actor for his incisive commentary on Trump, with some even suggesting that De Niro's words were more statesmanlike than any of Trump's own speeches. However, the reactions were not universally positive. Some individuals expressed their disagreement with De Niro's views, vowing to boycott his films in the future.

One user commented on the importance of policy over personality, stating, "We care about our country and Trump's policy. I didn't always like my [boss's] personality but I liked what he did for the company that kept our jobs to live our lives." Another user defended Trump, asserting that he is the only candidate capable of uniting America.