President Trump posted a series of angry messages on Truth Social, directly targeting actor Robert De Niro after De Niro publicly called him “an idiot” and criticized his leadership. Trump labeled De Niro “sick and demented” and claimed he has an “extremely Low IQ.” He also said De Niro “cries like a child” and that watching him “break down in tears last night” made him think the actor “may be even sicker than Crazy Rosie O’Donnell.”
Trump also linked De Niro to Representatives Ilhan Omar and Rashida Tlaib, calling all three “Low IQ” and “mentally deranged.” He suggested they should “get on a boat” together, calling them “LUNATICS” who looked like they “should be institutionalised.” Trump used his usual phrase “Trump Derangement Syndrome” to describe them, which he commonly applies to vocal critics.
He also controversially suggested this syndrome was linked to the death of Rob Reiner and his wife Michele. De Niro’s comments came from an appearance on the podcast The Best People with Nicole Wallace, where he said, “He’s an idiot. We gotta get rid of him. He’s gonna ruin the country.” He also said he doesn’t want “everybody going around with their Maga, the American flags, like they’re the only ones. We are Americans too.”
De Niro has been one of Trump’s most consistent and outspoken critics for years
De Niro followed up his podcast comments with a speech at the “State of the Swamp” event in Washington, an alternative event held during Trump’s State of the Union address. He described Trump as “failing, flailing and desperate” and said he felt “betrayed by my country.” This comes at a time when Trump’s team has been quietly working to manage the president’s growing list of public blunders.
This is not the first time De Niro has spoken out against Trump. Before Trump’s re-election in 2024, De Niro told Chris Wallace on HBO Max that Trump and his allies were “not real Republicans” and called him “a jerk, an idiot… and a clown.”
Robert De Niro on Donald Trump: “He’s an idiot. We’ve gotta get rid of him. He’s gonna ruin the country. Everything this country has worked for, represents, he is ruining it. I want my country back. There are more of us. We believe in what’s right and wrong. Empathy, kindness.… pic.twitter.com/Fn6dDI2KM6
— Marco Foster (@MarcoFoster_) February 23, 2026
While De Niro has not been a strong supporter of Kamala Harris either, he said she was “at least… sensitive to the condition of the country, the people.” He acknowledged she would “make mistakes,” but said the country needs “somebody with the right intentions,” adding that Trump “does not have the right intentions.”
Trump: “When you watch Low IQ Ilhan Omar and Rashida Tlaib, as they screamed uncontrollably last night at the very elegant State of the Union…They should actually get on a boat with Trump Deranged Robert De Niro, another sick and demented person with, I believe, an extremely Low… pic.twitter.com/Vt1QveUlbH
— Republicans against Trump (@RpsAgainstTrump) February 25, 2026
De Niro’s criticism of Trump has had professional consequences. The National Association of Broadcasters rescinded a leadership award they had planned to give him after he spoke out against Trump outside the president’s criminal trial in New York. Meanwhile, Trump’s political moves continue to stir controversy, including pushing Senate Republicans to pass his election bill.
The back-and-forth between Trump and De Niro reflects a pattern that has gone on for years, with the actor consistently and publicly opposing the president across interviews, events, and public appearances, and Trump responding with personal attacks on social media.
