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Renowned actor Robert De Niro didn't hold back his disdain for former President Donald Trump during a news conference at the Cannes Film Festival.
De Niro, who has consistently expressed his strong disapproval of Trump in the past, took the opportunity to slam him once again while promoting his latest film, Killers Of The Flower Moon, directed by frequent collaborator Martin Scorsese.
De Niro began his critique of Trump without explicitly mentioning his name, describing him as "stupid." However, as the conference progressed, he intensified his criticism, specifically targeting Trump's bid for the Republican Party's presidential nomination in 2024.
You can hear what De Niro said in the video below.
\u201cRobert De Niro rips Donald Trump while discussing "the banality of evil" in "Killers of the Flower Moon": "We see it today and you know who I\u2019m talking about but I\u2019m not going to say his name. That guy is stupid." https://t.co/YeZrO6zkFm #Cannes\u201d— Variety (@Variety) 1684671689
The actor's initial remarks came when he discussed his character in the film, William Hale, a cattle rancher responsible for the Osage Nation murders in the 1920s, driven by the discovery of oil deposits on the land. De Niro admitted to not fully comprehending his character, but highlighted the duality of Hale's personality—his sincerity and his betrayal.
De Niro drew a parallel between Hale's actions and what he perceives as the "banality of evil" present in society today, making it clear that he was alluding to Trump without explicitly mentioning his name.
The actor stated:
"It's the banality of evil. It's the thing we have to watch out for. And we see it today, of course. We all know who I'm going to talk about. But I won't say the name."
De Niro further emphasized his criticism, declaring:
"Because that guy is stupid. Imagine if you're smart. Even Hale was smart in many ways."
The actor's words left no doubt about his low opinion of Trump, highlighting what he perceives as the former president's lack of intelligence.
Many concurred with the actor's assessment.
\u201c@Variety Good. Trump has earned the ridicule.\u201d— Variety (@Variety) 1684671689
\u201c@Variety \u201cBanality of evil\u201d \u2014 yes, that\u2019s Trump and MAGA and the GOP. \n\nI love Robert De Niro. I love his passion in this matter.\u201d— Variety (@Variety) 1684671689
\u201c@Variety Robert De Niro is one of the greats. Love his movies and his perspective of Trump and the GOP. He nailed it.\u201d— Variety (@Variety) 1684671689
\u201c@Variety You can't say it ANY clearer than that people...WAKE UP from your Jim Jones hypnotic trance and see through that garbage Trump for WHO he really is?? WHY is it so difficult for you "Supporters" to accept the truth??????\u201d— Variety (@Variety) 1684671689
\u201c@Variety Gotta love it when DeNiro owns the MAGA crowd, as they'll watch this, just to see what Robert has to say. The character Robert plays in this movie & TFG have a lot of parallels. Both truly terrible people. For the uneducated...don't want to wait for the movie? Read the book!\u201d— Variety (@Variety) 1684671689
\u201c@Variety De Niro went easy on him . Trump tried to steal the United States. FFS.\u201d— Variety (@Variety) 1684671689
\u201c@Variety Whatever you think of DeNiro, his platform is consistent. He is speaking his truth. Many say nothing.\u201d— Variety (@Variety) 1684671689
\u201c@Variety De Niro tells the truth and insane trumpers are fuming because the truth about their dear leader is hurting them.\u201d— Variety (@Variety) 1684671689
De Niro's outspoken criticism of Trump has been a consistent feature in his public appearances.
While some may argue that actors should refrain from expressing strong political opinions, De Niro has not shied away from using his platform to condemn what he sees as detrimental to society.
During Trump's presidency, DeNiro said America was “being run by a madman who wouldn’t recognize the truth if it came inside a bucket of his beloved Colonel Sanders Fried Chicken.”
And during the 2016 presidential campaign, De Niro referred to Trump as "blatantly stupid" and went to describe him as "a mutt who doesn’t know what he’s talking about, doesn’t do his homework, doesn’t care, thinks he’s gaming society, doesn’t pay his taxes.”