Robert De Niro Blasts Donald Trump in Speech: 'Evil'

Robert De Niro has branded former Donald Trump "evil" in a highly charged speech that was shared with attendees of an event aimed at stripping the former president of his political power.

The Oscar-winning actor has long been an outspoken critic of Trump, and reiterated his sentiments in a speech that he had penned ahead of a scheduled appearance at The New Republic's Stop Trump Summit in New York City on Wednesday.

De Niro had been due to deliver the speech himself, but after testing positive for COVID-19, he sent his statement, which was read out at the event by former Trump administration official Miles Taylor.

"I've spent a lot of time studying bad men," the statement read. "I've examined their characteristics, their mannerisms, the utter banality of their cruelty. 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."

"Over the years, I've met gangsters here and there," De Niro stated. "[Trump] tries to be one, but he can't quite pull it off. There's such a thing as 'honor among thieves.' Yes, even criminals usually have a sense of right and wrong. Whether they do the right thing or not is a different story—but—they have a moral code, however warped. Donald Trump does not."

"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—not the people he was supposed to lead and protect, not the people he does business with, not the people who follow him, blindly and loyally, not even the people who consider themselves his 'friends.' He has contempt for all of them."

Referring to Trump's past dealings as a real estate mogul, De Niro said that New Yorkers "got to know him over the years that he poisoned the atmosphere and littered our city with monuments to his ego. We knew first-hand that this was someone who should never be considered for leadership. We tried to warn the world in 2016."

De Niro's speech sparked debate on X, formerly Twitter, where a number of users praised the screen star for his cutting take on Trump, who is the current favorite to become the 2024 Republican presidential nominee, amid his spate of legal woes.

"Brilliant denunciation of the Donald!" wrote one X user. "De Niro's words are more statesmanlike than any utterance Trump (or, for that matter, [former British Prime Minister Boris] Johnson—BJ—or any of the other lying, crooked, narcissistic demagogues in modern politics) ever made."

"Way to go De Niro calling out despicable Trump," commented another. "He must not ever be voted back in ever."

Also supporting De Niro's take, another said, "and that's why you don't f*** with De Niro! Trump is Evil!"

"A perfect takedown of that 'wannabe dictator' Trump by Robert De Niro," another posted. "Yes! It's time to #DumpTrump for good!"

Casting the net wider, another wrote: "Everything De Niro said about Trump applies equally to the @GOP in general: 'No morals or ethics' and 'no sense of right or wrong' and 'no regard for anyone but [themselves].'"

Others took umbrage at De Niro's statement, with one detractor stating: "De Niro has made many negative statements regarding Trump since day one. Many of De Niro's statements regarding Trump were terrible and offensive to the American people. I no longer watch any of his movies and to me De Niro is repulsive."

"Go away De Niro not everyone cares what you think of another person," said another. "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."

"Can't stand Trump, but I don't give a s*** what De Niro or any other Hollywood celebrity thinks," one X user commented, while another wrote: "The only place De Niro has ever been a real man is in the movies. He couldn't hold Trump's golf balls."

Another opined that Trump "is the only candidate that can & will unite America. De Niro wants Hollywood & Washington connected at the hip so that each location can dictate to Americans how to live their lives under the political boot of propaganda. The left is scared that he will expose them 2!"

Elsewhere in his written speech, De Niro warned against the reelection of Trump. "Democracy won't survive the return of a wannabe dictator," he wrote.

As a solution, he offered that others should "reach out to Trump's followers with respect," adding that "[we] won't get them all, but we can get enough to end the nightmare of Trump, and fulfill the mission of this 'Stop Trump Summit.'"

Newsweek has contacted representatives of Trump via email for comment.

Robert De Niro's Speech in Full

I'm sorry I couldn't be with you today. A few days ago, I came down with a heavy case of COVID. I was looking forward to being with you, hearing the other speakers, and speaking with Miles [Taylor]. I first encountered Miles when he was still "anonymous." Through his writing, commentary, and books, I've come to admire his intelligence and courage. I'm grateful that he's agreed to be my voice today.

I am with you in spirit. I am watching. This is an important conversation. What The New Republic is doing in this "Stop Trump Summit"—what you all are doing here today—can help determine our future.

I've spent a lot of time studying bad men. I've examined their characteristics, their mannerisms, the utter banality of their cruelty. 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.

Over the years, I've met gangsters here and there. This guy tries to be one, but he can't quite pull it off. There's such a thing as "honor among thieves." Yes, even criminals usually have a sense of right and wrong. Whether they do the right thing or not is a different story—but—they have a moral code, however warped.

Donald Trump does not. He's a wannabe tough guy with no morals or ethics. No sense of right or wrong. No regard for anyone but himself—not the people he was supposed to lead and protect, not the people he does business with, not the people who follow him, blindly and loyally, not even the people who consider themselves his "friends." He has contempt for all of them.

We New Yorkers got to know him over the years that he poisoned the atmosphere and littered our city with monuments to his ego. We knew first hand that this was someone who should never be considered for leadership. We tried to warn the world in 2016.

The repercussions of his turbulent presidency divided America and rattled New York City beyond imagination. Remember how we were jolted by crisis in early 2020, as a virus swept the world. We lived with Donald Trump's bombastic behavior every day on the national stage, and we suffered as we saw our neighbors piling up in body bags.

The man who was supposed to protect this country put it in peril, because of his recklessness and impulsiveness. It was like an abusive father ruling the family by fear and violent behavior. That was the consequence of New York's warning getting ignored. Next time, we know it will be worse.

Make no mistake: the twice-impeached, four-time indicted Donald Trump is still a fool. But we can't let our fellow Americans write him off like one. Evil thrives in the shadow of dismissive mockery, which is why we must take the danger of Donald Trump very seriously.

So today we issue another warning. From this place where Abraham Lincoln spoke—right here in the beating heart of New York—to the rest of America:

This is our last chance.

Democracy won't survive the return of a wannabe dictator.

And it won't overcome evil if we are divided.

So what do we do about it? I know I'm preaching to the choir here. What we're doing today is valuable, but we have to take today into tomorrow—take it outside these walls. We have to reach out to the half of our country who have ignored the hazards of Trump and, for whatever reason, support elevating him back into the White House. They're not stupid, and we must not condemn them for making a stupid choice. Our future doesn't just depend on us. It depends on them.

Let's reach out to Trump's followers with respect. Let's not talk about "democracy." "Democracy" may be our holy grail, but to others it is just a word, a concept, and in their embrace of Trump, they've already turned their backs on it. Let's talk about right and wrong. Let's talk about humanity. Let's talk about kindness. Security for our world. Safety for our families. Decency. Let's welcome them back. We won't get them all, but we can get enough to end the nightmare of Trump, and fulfill the mission of this "Stop Trump Summit."

Thank you.