Robert De Niro has had a prestigious award withdrawn following his outspoken comments about Donald Trump outside the former president’s trial. The 80-year-old actor attended a Democrat-organized event on Tuesday outside the New York court where Trump was on trial for falsifying business records to cover up an affair before the 2016 presidential election.
Standing by Manhattan Criminal Court, De Niro launched a scathing attack on Trump, labeling him a “monster” and engaging in heated exchanges with Trump supporters, whom he referred to as “gangsters.”
The National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) decided to rescind their offer to award De Niro with the Leadership Foundation’s Service to America Award, which he was set to receive on Tuesday. A spokesperson for the NAB stated that the event is “proudly bipartisan, uniting those from across the political spectrum to celebrate the impactful work of local broadcasters and our partners.”
They added, “While we strongly support the right of every American to exercise free speech and participate in civic engagement, it is clear that Mr. De Niro’s recent high-profile activities will create a distraction from the philanthropic work that we were hoping to recognize.” To maintain the focus on the service of the award winners, Mr. De Niro will no longer be attending the event.
In response, De Niro expressed his support for the NAB, stating, “I wish them well for their continued good work.”
Joined on Tuesday by two former law enforcement officers who were at the US Capitol during the January 6 riots three years ago, De Niro said of Trump, “He doesn’t belong in my city.” He also warned that if Trump were re-elected in November, “I can tell you right now, he will never leave.”
Trump responded to De Niro’s comments on social media, calling the actor “pathetic.” On Friday, Trump was found unanimously guilty on 34 counts of falsifying business records to cover up “hush money” payments to adult film star Stormy Daniels. He is the first former US president to be criminally convicted. Trump maintains his innocence and says he will appeal the verdict.
Responding to the verdict, De Niro told Variety while on the red carpet for his new movie, Ezra, that “justice was served.”
Trump, seemingly agitated by the ongoing trial, took to his Truth Social platform after midnight on Wednesday, firing off a series of angry messages attacking President Joe Biden, Judge Juan Merchan, the district attorney’s office, and Robert De Niro. The actor, who is featured in a new ad for the Biden campaign, had spoken outside the courthouse where Trump’s criminal trial was taking place on Tuesday, calling Trump “a tyrant” and “a coward.”
Trump’s late-night posts included calling De Niro a “wacko,” claiming his movies have “gone WAY DOWN IN VALUE,” and dismissing him as “pathetic and sad.” He even quoted the song “Mrs. Robinson” by Simon & Garfunkel, writing: “Where have you gone Joe DiMaggio!!!”
De Niro has been a vocal critic of Trump for years. Ahead of the 2016 election, he described Trump as “blatantly stupid,” a “punk,” a “dog,” a “pig,” and a “con.” Trump has occasionally fired back, calling De Niro “unwatchable” and a “total loser” after the actor criticized him during an awards show late last year.
The National Association of Broadcasters Leadership Foundation rescinded De Niro’s invitation to attend its Celebration of Service to America Awards next week after his fiery anti-Trump remarks outside the former president’s criminal trial in Manhattan on Tuesday. De Niro had been invited to the press conference by Joe Biden’s presidential campaign.
At the NAB event, De Niro was to receive the organization’s 2024 Service of Leadership Award, the NABLF’s highest individual honor in recognition of charitable work and public service. The NAB stated, “The Celebration of Service to America Awards is dedicated to honoring the vital local journalism and public service that local radio and television stations provide to their communities.”
The statement continued, “While we strongly support the right of every American to exercise free speech and participate in civic engagement, it is clear that Mr. De Niro’s recent high-profile activities will create a distraction from the philanthropic work that we were hoping to recognize. To maintain the focus on service of the award winners, Mr. De Niro will no longer be attending the event.”
In response, De Niro said, “I support the work of the NAB Leadership Foundation and would like to express my appreciation and gratitude for what the Foundation has done and will continue to do for the good of us all, and I wish them well for their continued good work.”
De Niro, who recently narrated a Biden campaign ad, warned of Trump’s potential return to the White House, calling him a “tyrant.” He stated, “Now he’s promising to use our own military to attack U.S. citizens. That’s the tyrant, that is the tyrant he is telling us he will be, and believe me, he means it.”
Trump was convicted Thursday on 34 counts of falsifying business records as part of a conspiracy to keep a potential sex scandal from derailing his first presidential campaign. De Niro’s response to the verdict? “Justice was served.”
