De Niro Bashes Trump but Makes No Impact
May 31, 2024Key Takeaways
- New Yorkers and online spectators heckled actor Robert De Niro for his partisan speech condemning former President Trump.
- While leftists and anti-Trump zealots defend De Niro, much of the reaction from voters paints him as a washed-up actor trying to wield his celebrity clout for partisan politics.
- In general, Americans criticize the trend of celebrities entering public political debate, although they’re more likely to be sympathetic to celebrities who share their views.
Our Methodology
Demographics
All Voters
Sample Size
10,000
Geographical Breakdown
National
Time Period
2 Days
MIG Reports leverages EyesOver technology, employing Advanced AI for precise analysis. This ensures unparalleled precision, setting a new standard. Find out more about the unique data pull for this article.
Robert De Niro recently gained attention for an angry screed against former President Donald Trump in New York City. His comments, which included insisting that if America re-elects Trump, he will never leave office, drew heckles and boos from passing New Yorkers.
DeNiro losing it as someone starts honking their car horn over and over as he tries to say voting for Biden is how we fix America pic.twitter.com/kTSfnvexCg
— Jack Poso 🇺🇸 (@JackPosobiec) May 28, 2024
De Niro then got into a yelling match with his hecklers, calling them gangsters. Video of the event online caused partisan discussion about Trump, De Niro, and celebrities using their influence for politics.
It’s embarrassing that even Vito Corleone AKA De Niro can’t win New Yorkers over.
— Patrick Bet-David (@patrickbetdavid) May 29, 2024
Great actor but a bitter grumpy old man.
pic.twitter.com/pz0heFLUnX
Right Leaning and Cringe-Sensitive Americans React
Mentions of De Niro online are mostly partisan, with left leaning commenters supporting him and right leaning voters ridiculing him. There are also less politically inclined Americans who simply view De Niro’s speech as a cringeworthy display by another actor desperate for attention.
Many voters perceive De Niro’s claims that Trump has dictatorial tendencies as unfounded and fantastical. People mock De Niro’s accusations of Trump wanting to "take our country down the black hole of dictatorship" and terminate the U.S. Constitution.
People are also discussing his integrations with hecklers during the political event, but reactions are similarly politically slanted. Some mention De Niro as falling from grace, calling him a "has been" who struggles with anger and TDS (Trump derangement syndrome).
- Even with criticism from De Niro and his leftist counterparts, Trump’s approval remains steady with sentiment towards him on the topic of president consistently at 50%.
Liberal Trump Haters
Democratic voters and anti-Trumpers compare Trump unfavorably with Robert De Niro. They say De Niro, unlike Trump, paid his taxes and has contributed positively to New York City. They express a belief that Trump has played a role in deteriorating conditions in New York. They cite issues like rising crime and high taxes, criticizing Trump for his impact in exacerbating both.
Many liberals also agree with suggestions that Trump has demonstrated dictatorial tendencies. This seems to be a common belief among those who oppose Trump – and many view the gravity of the 2024 election as democracy hanging in the balance. This group regularly accuses Trump of intending to act like a dictator if he were to regain power.
Anti-Trumpers also raise concerns about his alleged intentions to punish political opponents. They frequently draw comparisons between him and historical dictators like Hitler. Some comment multiple times on these points.
Views of Celebrity Influence in Politics
De Niro, like many left leaning celebrities, is known for his outspoken political viewpoints. He frequently speaks up about the need for gun control and other Democratic platform issues like climate change.
The ongoing tendency for celebrities to insert themselves into political commentary is increasingly a point of annoyance for many Americans. Reactions often convey strong negative feelings towards woke culture and left-wing commentary imposed by entertainers and mainstream media.
Some also point out that, while Democrats and the left have long been seen as having more star power and cultural influence, trotting out celebrities like Robert De Niro and Mark Hamill whose popularity is waning, may a sign of decreasing cultural cachet.
General patterns of American views about celebrity political activism include:
- Partisan Responses: Some voters warmly embrace celebrity viewpoints if they align with their own political beliefs.
- Disregard for Celebrity Opinions: Most people seem to believe celebrities lack the requisite knowledge or expertise to offer valid commentary on complex political issues.
- Irrelevant Voices: People see celebrities as out-of-touch with the realities of ordinary citizens and therefore dismiss their perspectives as irrelevant.
- Annoyance: There is also hostility towards celebrities who use their fame to promote political agendas. This attitude is often expressed with strong negative language.
- Supporting Free Speech: Some express the belief that celebrities, like any other citizens, have the right to voice their political views, even if they disagree with these views.
- Conspiracy and Distrust: Other trends indicate a broader mistrust in mainstream media and celebrity clout. Many view celebrity commentary as part of a larger, orchestrated propaganda agenda.