On Tuesday morning, outside the New York City courthouse, where Trump’s trial was taking place, actor Robert De Niro spoke with the Biden Campaign regarding the defendant. De Niro recently participated in an already controversial ad for the Biden campaign (now unlisted on YouTube), pinning extreme accusations on the Republican, yet this speech truly highlighted the doomsday fear-mongering which was classic amongst Trump critics.
Trump and several of his supporters have often spoken before and after the court sessions, allowing a lot of media coverage and now the Biden Campaign decided to take advantage of this media opportunity as well. De Niro has emerged as the typical politically charged celebrity and he, again, stuck to the doomsday theme, condemning Americans for electing Trump in 2016,
“We’d forgotten the lessons of history that showed us other clowns who weren’t taken seriously until they became vicious dictators.”
Continuing his monologue, De Niro assisted the Biden campaign by politicizing Memorial Day and proclaiming the end of democracy and the country as we know it will end with the election of Trump:
Yesterday was Memorial Day. It's a good time to reflect on how Americans fought and died so that we may enjoy the freedoms guaranteed to us by a democratic a government, a government that, as President Lincoln said, ‘of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the Earth.’ Under Trump, this kind of will perish from the Earth. I don't mean to scare you. No, no, wait, maybe I don't mean to scare you. If Trump returns to the White House, you can kiss these freedoms goodbye that we all take for granted and elections, forget about it.
He followed up by claiming all Americans have a duty to vote for Biden:
I hope this new ad campaign reaches outside the bubble to remind supporters of what a danger he is to our lives. This is not a threat, this is a reality, and that’s why I’ve joined the Biden-Harris Campaign, because the only way to preserve our freedoms and hold onto our humanity, is to vote for Joe Biden for president. Really, we don’t have a choice!
Not all were pleased with De Niro’s tactics, as spectators interjected, and car horns began to interrupt the actor until he had finished speaking.
The transcript is below. Click "expand" to read:
ABC News Live
5/28/2024
10:40:08 AM ET.
(...)
ROBERT DE NIRO: When Trump ran in 2016, it was like a joke. This buffoon running for president “nah, never could happen.” We'd forgotten the lessons of history that showed us other clowns who weren't taken seriously until they became vicious dictators. With Trump, we have a second chance and no one is laughing now. This is the time to stop him by voting him out once and for all.
We don't want to wake up after the election saying “What, again? My god, what the hell have we done?”
We can't have that happen again. Yesterday was Memorial Day. It's a good time to reflect on how Americans fought and died so that we may enjoy the freedoms guaranteed to us by a democratic government, a government that, as President Lincoln said, “of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the Earth.”
Under Trump, this kind of government will perish from the Earth. I don't mean to scare you. No, no, wait, maybe I do mean to scare you. If Trump returns to the White House, you can kiss these freedoms goodbye that we all take for granted. And elections, forget about it. That's over, that's done. If he gets in, I can tell you right now, he will never leave. He will never leave. You know that. He will never leave. What does that mean? 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.” I hope this new ad campaign reaches outside the bubble to remind supporters of what a danger he is to our lives.
This is not a threat, this is a reality, and that’s why I’ve joined the Biden-Harris Campaign, because the only way to preserve our freedoms and hold onto our humanity, is to vote for Joe Biden for president. Really, we don’t have a choice!
On January 6th while Republican lawmakers despicably tried to keep the Loser Trump, the Loser Trump in the White House and Trump inspired insurrectionists stormed the Capitol brave men and women from law enforcement put their lives on the line to defend this country, our democracy. They are the true heroes. These guys are the true heroes. They stood and put their lives on the line for these low lives. But Trump
MAN: They lied under oath.
DE NIRO: They lied under oath.
MAN: Right.
DE NIRO: Who lied under oath? Why are you telling me?
MAN: Those two traitors behind you.
DE NIRO: Excuse me?
MAN: Those two traitors behind you.
DE NIRO: They lied under oath.?
MAN: That's right.
DE NIRO: What do you say?
MAN: They’re traitors.
DE NIRO: They're traitors? You got a – I don’t even know how to deal with you, my friend. I don't even know how to deal with you. They stood there, they didn't have to. And there were other ones in there who probably were in with them a little bit, too. And they found a way to get around. Not these guys. They stood there and fought, for us, for you, for you.
MAN: But they weren’t fighting for me.
DE NIRO: No, yeah, no. They fought for you, buddy. You're able to stand right here now. They are the true heroes. I am honored to be with these two heroes today from former Capital Police Officer Harry Dunn and former Metropolitan Police Officer Michael Fanone.
