Former President Trump railed against acclaimed actor Robert De Niro early Wednesday morning, a day after the Hollywood star spoke on behalf of the Biden campaign outside the Manhattan courthouse where Trump’s hush money trial is taking place.
“I never knew how small, both mentally and physically, Wacko Former Actor Robert De Niro was,” Trump wrote in a post on his Truth Social platform just after midnight Wednesday.
“Today, De Niro, who suffers from an incurable case of TRUMP DERANGEMENT SYNDROME, commonly known in the medical community as TDS, was met, outside the Courthouse, with a force far greater than the Radical Left – MAGA,” Trump continued, using “TDS” to refer to a fabricated condition he and his supporters often ascribe to critics.
In its most direct attempt to wade into Trump’s legal troubles, President Biden’s campaign held a surprise press conference in lower Manhattan in which the actor and Capitol Police officers Harry Dunn and Michael Fanone, who were injured during the Jan. 6, 2021, riots, spoke of the dangers of a second Trump presidency.
As the Biden surrogates were delivering their remarks, at least 20 Trump supporters were spotted in the park nearby, waving flags, wearing “Make America Great Again” gear and chanting various slogans including “F‑‑‑ Joe Biden.” A large flag that included the phrase “Trump or Death” was flown nearby.
Once the press conference concluded, a group of demonstrators followed the actor, again heckling and shouting at De Niro. There was also a large police presence surrounding the park where the press conference took place.
The large group chanted, “We love Trump” and “Juan Merchan is corrupt,” referencing the judge who is overseeing the hush money case, echoing what Trump has often said about him.
The Manhattan trial began and wrapped up its closing arguments Tuesday, as Trump faces 34 counts of falsifying business records related to a hush money payment made to adult film actor Stormy Daniels during the 2016 election cycle to stay quiet about an alleged past affair, which the former president denies. The case now heads to the jury for deliberations.
De Niro, who filmed a Biden campaign ad last week, bashed the former president outside of the courthouse, while Trump supporters shouted and heckled him in the background.
“Donald Trump has created this. He should be telling them not to do this. … He wants to sow total chaos, which he’s succeeding in some areas and places to do,” De Niro said.
“I don’t mean to scare you. No no, wait, maybe I do mean to scare you,” the 80-year-old added. “If Trump returns to the White House, you can kiss away these freedoms that we take for granted, and elections, forget about it. … He will never leave.”
The actor also at one point referred to Trump as a “clown.”
While De Niro was speaking, protesters could be heard yelling, “De Niro is afraid,” and “I haven’t seen a good movie from you in the last 20 years!”
The former president, in his latest online post, smeared De Niro and suggested his professional work has suffered since he began campaigning for Biden.
“Robert, whose movies, artistry, and brand have gone WAY DOWN IN VALUE since he entered the political arena at the request of Crooked Joe Biden, looked so pathetic and sad out there,” Trump wrote. “Where have you gone Joe DiMaggio!!!”
The Hill has reached out to De Niro’s press team for comment.