Robert De Niro breaks down while accusing Trump of ‘destroying’ America

NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: Actor Robert De Niro became visibly emotional during a recent interview on MS NOW with host Nicolle Wallace, choking up as he criticized President Donald Trump and spoke about the condition of the country. 

The interview, which covered a wide range of political topics, saw De Niro passionately express concern for the country’s future and the need to bring people together. His emotional moment occurred toward the end of the sit‑down, drawing attention from viewers and media alike.

Robert De Niro’s emotional critique of trump

During the roughly 40‑minute interview on MS NOW’s 'The Best People', aired on Monday, February 24, De Niro repeatedly criticized Trump’s presidency, stating that Trump was “destroying” America and contributing to "division among Americans."

De Niro used strong language to describe Trump as “sa**stic” and “cruel,” mocking the president and suggesting he was “triggered” by “real men” and “displays of actual strength.”

He also condemned Trump’s recent deportation operation in Minnesota, describing it as part of this destructive pattern. As the interview neared its close, Wallace asked De Niro about his habit of publicly thanking people he works with at award shows and why uplifting others is important to him.

At that point, his voice began to break with emotion, and he emphasized that lifting people up is necessary because people must “bring them together” rather than divide them. He asserted that division is not a successful way to lead, echoing his larger concerns about the nation’s trajectory.

With his voice cracking, De Niro continued to lament the current political climate. He questioned the justification for the country’s direction under Trump and described the situation as a “no‑win” circumstance, before suggesting that the responsibility to “protect the country” falls to the American people. 

Robert De Niro’s call to action and closing thoughts

Wallace acknowledged the emotional moment, saying, “You weren’t supposed to make me cry,” though she did not appear to be crying herself. She continued, "Thank you so much. Thank you for this. We talked about how this is the moment, this is the moment that it goes one way or the other. Is it going the other way?”

In response, De Niro affirmed that one must resist forces that he believes are threatening the nation’s cohesion, "I don’t know. All I know is people have to have to resist, resist, resist."

He further said, "There’s no easy way. It’s not going to come to you easy You know, there’s a time when you know in your own life and your own survival You better do this."

De Niro continued to emphasize that confronting the current challenges requires action and resilience, “You better jump and run through the fire because if you don’t run through the fire, you’re not getting out and that’s what we have to do.”