Robert De Niro, long known for his outspoken criticism of Donald Trump, once again made headlines with a blunt and emotional assessment of the former president. On The Best People With Nicole Wallace, he described the nation as being in crisis. “The story is our country, and Trump is destroying it, and who knows what his reasons are, but it’s sick, it’s f***** up,” said the 82-year-old actor. He added, “We have to save the country.”

De Niro went further, calling Trump “an enemy of this country.” “Let’s not kid ourselves. It’s that simple,” he said. He emphasized that unity is essential, warning that even if Trump were no longer in office, “Parts of that movement are still there, and that’s the scary part. It has to be neutralized by the people.”

Throughout the interview, De Niro stressed togetherness. When host Nicole Wallace praised him for encouraging others, he became emotional: “You have to — you have to lift people up. You have to bring them together. Period. You can’t divide people. You can’t win that way.”

Reflecting on the broader political climate, he expressed disbelief at the situation in the country. “Look what we have, look who we have there, it’s almost like a destiny to have this thing there, destroying… attempting to destroy this country and maybe not even understanding why,” he said. “So it’s up to us to protect the country.”

This is not De Niro’s first public critique. In October 2025, he appeared in a video with activist group Indivisible, drawing a historical comparison: “Americans decided they didn’t want to live under the rule of King George III. They declared their independence and fought a bloody war for democracy. Now we have a would-be king who wants to take it away: King Donald the First. F*** that. We’re rising up again, this time, nonviolently raising our voices to declare: No Kings.”

De Niro’s remarks reflect the intense feelings shaping American political discourse. While some applaud his stance, others criticize Hollywood figures as overly partisan. Regardless, his emotional tone during the podcast underscores how deeply personal and urgent the issue is to him, highlighting the continuing debates over leadership, democracy, and the nation’s direction.