The verbal sparring between U.S. President Donald Trump and veteran actor Robert De Niro escalated after the latter appeared in a podcast, where he delivered sharp criticism of the president and his supporters. In turn, Trump responded with a lengthy post in which he harshly attacked De Niro. During the podcast conversation, the 82-year-old De Niro sharply criticized the president and his supporters. "He's a fool," De Niro said. "I don't want everyone walking around with 'Make America Great Again' slogans and American flags, as if they're the only ones. We're Americans, too." De Niro did not stop at these statements but delivered a speech titled "Swamp State," a move described as a counter-speech timed to coincide with Trump's "State of the Union" address on Tuesday. On Wednesday, the president responded with a lengthy post on the Truth Social platform, calling the actor a "sick and mentally deranged person." In his post, he also addressed Congresswomen Ilhan Omar and Rashida Tlaib, criticizing their behavior during the "State of the Union" address. "When you watch Ilhan Omar and Rashida Tlaib hysterically screaming last night at the elegant and very important 'State of the Union' speech, you see their eyes are bulging and bloodshot, like the eyes of crazy, mentally deranged, and sick people who, to be honest, look like they need to be committed to a mental institution," Trump's post read. "They should get in a boat with Trump-obsessed Robert De Niro, another sick and mentally deranged person, and I think he has a very low IQ and has no idea what he's doing or saying — and some of what he says is a serious crime!" the president added. In turn, De Niro, during his podcast appearance, expressed a feeling of "betrayal by his country," emphasizing the need to return to what he called "core values." "The situation doesn't have to be perfect, but it has to return to the values that gave us our strength and our humanity... If you want our leaders to be accountable, if you're committed to the Constitution and the rule of law, and if you want the United States of America to be worthy of your love, then get ready to take to the streets together, and we will take back our country." The two-time Oscar winner is known for his outspoken opposition to Trump, having repeatedly expressed his critical stance, especially in the period leading up to his re-election for a second term in 2024. "We have to get rid of him. He's going to destroy the country."
