Robert De Niro claims Trump ‘could destroy the world’ outside Manhattan court

Actor Robert De Niro slammed former President Trump as a “danger” to Americans in comments during a press conference in New York City on Tuesday outside the Manhattan courtroom where the 45th president is facing trial.

“I hope this new ad campaign reaches outside the bubble to remind supporters of what a danger he is to our lives. This is not a threat. This is our reality. And that’s why I’ve joined the Biden-Harris campaign, because the only way to preserve our freedoms and hold on to our humanity is to vote for Joe Biden for president,” De Niro said of Trump on Tuesday during the Biden-Harris press conference in Manhattan. President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris were not present during the event. 

The actor was joined by the Biden campaign’s communications director, Michael Tyler, who called Trump a “chaos agent,” as well DC Metropolitan Police Department Officer Michael Fanone and former Capitol Police Officer Harry Dunn, who was present in the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. 

“Trump poses a unique and growing threat to our fundamental rights and our freedoms, our very democracy and our economy. The threat is crystal clear today and will remain crystal clear tomorrow. And will be crystal clear on the debate stage in Atlanta on June 27th,” Tyler said, referring to the anticipated June 27th debate between Biden and Trump. 

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De Niro was shouted at by protesters at the start of the press conference, before a car horn began blaring. The actor argued that Trump does not “belong” in New York City, citing he “wants to destroy” the city and the nation. 

“Donald Trump wants to destroy not only the city, but the country. And eventually he could destroy the world,” he said.

Former President Trump sits in the courtroom during his hush money trial at Manhattan Criminal Court in New York City on May 21, 2024. After approximately five weeks, 19 witnesses, reams of documents and a dash of salacious testimony, the prosecution against the former president rested its case on May 21, 2024, handing over to the defense before closing arguments expected next week. (Michael M. Santiago/PoolAFP via Getty Images)

“I owe this city a lot. And that’s why it’s so weird that Donald Trump is just across the street because he doesn’t belong in my city. I don’t know where he belongs, but he certainly doesn’t belong here. We New Yorkers used to tolerate him when he was just another grubby real estate hustler masquerading as a big shot,” De Niro added. 

The actor recently provided his voice for a Biden-Harris campaign ad dubbed, “Snapped,” that slammed Trump as “out of control” and “threatening to be a ‘dictator’ to terminate the constitution.” 

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Trump is facing the end of his trial in Manhattan, where he faces 34 counts of falsifying business records. Prosecutors are working to prove that Trump falsified business records to conceal a $130,000 payment to former pornographic star Stormy Daniels ahead of the 2016 election to quiet her claims of an alleged affair with Trump in 2006. 

The Trump campaign held a separate press conference Tuesday, following the Biden campaign’s presser with De Niro, where Trump campaign senior adviser Jason Miller slammed De Niro as a “washed up actor.”  

“Joe Biden is losing nationally, he’s losing in every single battleground state. And President Trump’s numbers continue to rise, the best that Biden can do is roll out a washed up actor. And don’t worry, my remarks will be shorter than ‘The Irishman.’ I won’t make you suffer for three hours, but the best they can do is roll out a washed up actor,” Miller said, referring to De Niro’s three and a half hour movie “The Irishman.” 

Trump said Tuesday in comments to the media that Tuesday marks a “dangerous day for America” as the defense and prosecution teams make their closing arguments to the jury. 

Former President Trump and his lawyer Emil Bove watch as Michael Cohen is questioned by prosecutor Susan Hoffinger during Trump’s criminal trial on charges that he falsified business records to conceal money paid to silence porn star Stormy Daniels in 2016, in Manhattan state court in New York City on May 14, 2024 in this courtroom sketch. (REUTERS/Jane Rosenberg)

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“This is a very dangerous day for America. It’s a very sad day,” Trump said in remarks to the media before heading into the Manhattan courtroom Tuesday morning. 

“Make no mistake about it, I’m here because of crooked Joe Biden. The worst president in the history of our country, he’s destroying our country. This country is being destroyed rapidly, not slowly, rapidly. On the borders, on energy, on inflation, on everything you can name, Afghanistan removal. Everything about what he’s done, he’s destroying our country, and he’s also destroying it with weaponization. And this is purely is weaponization,” Trump added in his remarks. 

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Trump has been required to sit in the courtroom throughout the trial and is also required in the courtroom during deliberations in the event of any jury notes.