For years, Robert De Niro has been one of the most outspoken critics of Donald Trump. Known for his blunt delivery and unwillingness to soften his views, the Oscar-winning actor once again made headlines after delivering an emotional and deeply critical assessment of the current president.

Appearing on The Best People With Nicole Wallace, De Niro did not temper his language. Instead, he described what he sees as a nation 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,” the 82-year-old actor said during the conversation. He added emphatically, “We have to save the country.”

De Niro has never shied away from sharp rhetoric when discussing Trump. In the past, he has used terms such as “buffoon,” “idiot,” “monster,” and “vicious dictator” to describe the president. In this latest interview, he went further, characterizing Trump as “an enemy of this country.”

“Let’s not kid ourselves. It’s that simple,” De Niro said. “Everybody has to stick together to get them out and get back on track.”

Throughout the discussion, the actor stressed unity as the only viable path forward. He warned that even if Trump were no longer in office for health or other reasons, the broader political movement surrounding him would remain influential.

“That’s the only way. There’s no magic. There’s no nothing – people are not going to go away, even if Trump dies for some reason by having an illness or something,” De Niro said. “Parts of that movement are still there, and that’s the scary part. It has to be neutralized by the people.”

The conversation took a more personal turn when host Nicole Wallace praised De Niro for consistently encouraging others and “lifting up everybody around you.” The actor became visibly emotional.

“You have to — you have to lift people up,” he responded, his voice breaking slightly. “You have to bring them together. Period. You can’t divide people. You can’t win that way.”

Reflecting on the broader political climate, the Taxi Driver star expressed disbelief at what he sees unfolding 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 far from the first time De Niro has voiced his opposition. In October 2025, he appeared in a video released by the activist organization Indivisible, where he drew a historical comparison between Trump and a monarch.

“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. We’ve had two and a half centuries of democracy since then. Often challenging, sometimes messy, always essential,” De Niro said.

He continued: “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 intensity of feeling that continues to define American political discourse. While his comments resonate strongly with some audiences, they also draw criticism from others who see Hollywood figures as overly partisan. Regardless of perspective, his emotional tone during the podcast underscored how deeply personal and urgent the issue feels to him.

As the political landscape remains sharply divided, voices like De Niro’s continue to fuel debate over leadership, democracy, and the direction of the country.