Trump criticizes De Niro after actor’s appearance outside court

Former President Trump criticized acclaimed actor Robert De Niro on Wednesday morning, a day after the Hollywood star spoke on behalf of the Biden campaign outside the Manhattan courthouse where Trump’s secret trial is taking place.

“I never knew how small, both mentally and physically, crazy former actor Robert De Niro was,” Trump wrote in a post on its Truth Social platform shortly after midnight on 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 Court, with a force far greater than the Radical Left – MAGA,” Trump continued, using “TDS” to refer to a fabricated condition that he and his supporters often attribute to critics.

In its most direct attempt to address Trump’s legal troubles, President Biden’s campaign held a surprise news conference in lower Manhattan at which the actor and Capitol Police officers Harry Dunn and Michael Fanone, who were injured during the riots of January 6, 2021, spoke of the dangers of a second Trump presidency.

As Biden’s surrogates delivered their remarks, at least 20 Trump supporters were seen in the nearby park, 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 raised nearby.

After the press conference ended, a group of protesters followed the actor, again harassing and shouting at De Niro. There was also a large police presence around the park where the press conference took place.

The large group chanted, “We love Trump” and “Juan Merchan is corrupt,” referring to the judge overseeing the hush money case and repeating what Trump has always said about him.

The Manhattan trial wrapped its closing arguments Tuesday as Trump faces 34 counts of falsifying business records related to a secret payment made to adult film star Stormy Daniels during the 2016 election cycle to remain silent about an alleged past affair , which the former president denies. The case now goes to the jury for deliberations.

De Niro, who filmed a Biden campaign ad last week, hit the former president outside the courthouse as Trump supporters shouted and heckled him in the background.

“Donald Trump created this. He should be telling them not to do that. … He wants to sow total chaos, which he is managing to do in some areas and places,” De Niro said.

“I don’t want to scare you. No, no, wait, maybe I want to scare you,” she added. “If Trump returns to the White House, you can discard these freedoms we take for granted, and the election, forget that. …He will never go away.

The actor also referred to Trump as a “clown.”

As De Niro spoke, protesters could be heard shouting, “De Niro is scared” and “I haven’t seen a good movie of yours in the last 20 years!”

The former president, in his last online post, defamed De Niro and suggested that his professional work has suffered since he began campaigning for Biden.

“Robert, whose films, art and brand have fallen SO MUCH in value since entering the political arena at the behest of Crooked Joe Biden, looked so pathetic and sad out there,” Trump wrote. “Where did you go Joe DiMaggio!!!”

The Hill has reached out to De Niro’s press team for comment.

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