Fact Check: Did Robert De Niro leave US after Donald Trump's presidential election win?

WASHINGTON, DC: After Donald Trump’s victory in the 2024 presidential election, a rumor has been circulating online about renowned actor Robert De Niro. Known for his outspoken criticism of the former president, the 'Goodfellas' star has repeatedly called Trump a "gangster," "jerk," and "idiot." 

Earlier this year on ‘The View’, De Niro further slammed Trump as "mean-spirited" and "awful" when asked who might support the Republican leader. With such harsh remarks fueling speculation, some have claimed that De Niro left the United States in the wake of Trump’s win. But is there any truth to these rumors? Join us as we investigate and uncover the facts.

Has Robert De Niro left the US after Donald Trump's win?

The viral claim started when a Facebook user called @The Patriots Network posted on November 10 that Robert De Niro had left the country after witnessing a "massive red wave." The post also shared a quote attributed to the actor, saying, "Not worth living here now." 

The post further referenced a satirical article from a parody news website, Spacexmania, published in July 2024. The article, created in a comedic and exaggerated style, claimed that De Niro said he would leave the US if Trump were re-elected. The article quoted the actor saying, “If the 45th president returns to the White House, I will leave this country for good. I cannot stay in a place where such a person is in power. It’s a matter of principle and moral responsibility.” 

The article also included a statement where De Niro supposedly said, "This isn’t about politics as usual. This is about the soul of our nation. We have seen the damage that has been done, and to endure another term would be unbearable. I love America, but I love it too much to stay silent and complicit."

To further support the viral claims, De Niro's vocal criticism of Trump in past interviews has been used as evidence. In September 2024, during an appearance on 'Who's Talking to Chris Wallace,' De Niro was asked if he had ever met Trump. 

He responded, “No. I never wanted anything to do with him. He’s a jerk, an idiot. Who wants to meet a clown like that?” 

He also criticized Trump, saying the former president "did not have the right intentions." In the same month, De Niro stated that Trump wanted to "destroy the country."

Viral claim about Robert De Niro leaving the US has been debunked

The rumors about Robert De Niro leaving the country after Donald Trump's win have quickly been debunked. Notably, the original post included an image of a quote that carried a clear warning: "This is a fictional quote." 

It also stated, "Nothing on this page is real. If you believe anything we post, then you're a potato crop." These disclaimers confirm that the content shared by this account is purely fictional.

In addition, the page's profile explicitly labeled it as a "satire and parody" account, meaning its posts are intended to criticize or make fun of people through humor. 

Another clue that the claim was false is that the post referenced a July 2024 article from SpaceXmania, a website known for publishing satirical content. The article was filed under the "Satire" category, reinforcing that it was meant to be an exaggerated, humorous take on events rather than actual news.