Robert De Niro delivered a blistering criticism of Donald Trump on Sunday, saying the former president’s time in power has left him unable to “love” the United States as he once did.
Speaking at the Rise Up, Sing Out concert at Town Hall in New York City, De Niro told the crowd that the country no longer feels easy to embrace. “Our country isn’t so lovable right now,” he said, adding that professing love for America now sounded to him “like an abused spouse saying they love their abuser.”
The concert was organized by the Committee for the First Amendment, a group revived by Jane Fonda nearly 80 years after it was first founded. Its opposition to Trump was underscored by the involvement of partner organizations including No Kings and Indivisible.
De Niro, 82, appeared alongside Fonda, Julia Roberts and other prominent figures at the event. His remarks came the same day Trump marked his 80th birthday, which coincided with the Freedom 250 UFC event held on the White House lawn Sunday night.
During his speech, De Niro took aim at both Trump’s foreign policy record and his domestic agenda, broadening his criticism beyond rhetoric to specific grievances.
“I can’t love a country that starts stupid and inhumane wars, killing thousands of innocents and indirectly causing the deaths and suffering of millions more,” he said. He also condemned policies he said strip healthcare from millions while benefiting “their pals in the Trump-Epstein class.”
Robert De Niro said Donald Trump’s presidency has made it impossible for him to ‘love’ the United States in a brutal rant at the Rise Up, Sing Out concert on Sunday in New York City
De Niro, 82 – who was joined by Fonda, Julia Roberts and other stars – bashed Trump on the same day he celebrated his 80th birthday, which coincided with the Freedom 250 UFC match on the White House lawn on Sunday night; Trump is pictured with Charles Kushner (L) on Monday in Evian-Les-Bains, France
‘I can’t love a country that sends out masked militias to shoot citizens in the streets, torture our neighbors, and separate families,’ De Niro continued. ‘I can’t love a country that’s led by a racist, misogynist, xenophobic tyrant.
‘And let me just say it, I can’t love the country that’s led by Donald Trump. And a sycophant Congress,’ he added, before being forced to take a pause to accommodate the thunderous applause and cheers from the audience.
De Niro went on to clarify that, ‘For most of my life, of course, I did love this country.
‘The United States of America welcomed my immigrant ancestors. It gave me, my family, and my fellow citizens such rich opportunities and extraordinary freedoms,’ he said warmly. ‘I want to love my country again. I want my country back. That’s why I stand with the committee for the First Amendment. And you, all of you.
‘Together we rise up, we sing out, we keep organizing, and we fall in love again,’ De Niro urged.
Mediaite noted that the Taxi Driver star’s speech was similar to remarks he delivered in February at the State of the Swamp summit in Washington, DC.
Earlier in his speech, he joked, ‘Welcome to all of you who couldn’t get tickets to the White House cage fight,’ according to the Washington Examiner.
‘When I hear something I don’t like, I use my own free speech to respond,’ the Oscar winner continued. ‘Let me give you an example: when I hear Trump say, as he did a few days ago, “I don’t care about Americans’ financial situation, not even a little bit,” I say, “Shut the f*** up.”‘
‘I can’t love a country that starts stupid and inhumane wars. Killing thousands of innocents and indirectly causing the deaths and suffering of millions more,’ De Niro said
‘I can’t love a country that takes healthcare away from millions of people and uses that money to enrich their pals in the Trump–Epstein class. I can’t love a country that sends out masked militias to shoot citizens in the streets, torture our neighbors, and separate families,’ he continued
‘I can’t love a country that’s led by a racist, misogynist, xenophobic tyrant. And let me just say it, I can’t love the country that’s led by Donald Trump. And a sycophant Congress,’ De Niro added
Julia Roberts, 58, also spoke at the event and urged the audience to ‘breathe in all that hope’ and ‘breathe out all that fear,’ according to the Washington Examiner.
She paid tribute to one of the other leading ladies by wearing a T-shirt featuring Fonda’s name and visage in a style inspired by Shepard Fairey’s Obama ‘Hope’ poster, along with a gray seersucker sport coat with the sleeves rolled up to reveal its red, white and blue striped lining.
‘We all feel like, “I can’t turn the news on, I don’t want to hear it,”‘ Roberts’s speech continued. ‘But we have to hear it; we have to face it. But if we keep inhaling and exhaling, we will prevail.’
The Committee for the First Amendment has a storied history and a familial connection to the evening’s host, Jane Fonda.
The organization was founded back in 1947 by a quartet of Hollywood icons: The Maltese Falcon director John Huston, The Best Years Of Our Lives director William Wyler, How Green Was My Valley screenwriter Phillip Dunne and actress Myrna Loy, who was best known for starring in the popular Thin Man mystery series.
Its membership was a who’s-who of liberal stars opposing the House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC) hearings, including Fonda’s father, The Grapes Of Wrath star Henry Fonda.
The committee later went fallow as members tried to avoid being blacklisted by film studios, but Jane Fonda revived the organization in response to Donald Trump’s election to a second term.
Fonda wore a white shirt reading ‘resist’ on the chest, along with contrasting crimson slacks.
Julia Roberts, 58, also spoke at the event and urged the audience to ‘breathe in all that hope’ and ‘breathe out all that fear,’ according to the Washington Examiner
‘We all feel like, “I can’t turn the news on, I don’t want to hear it,”‘ Roberts said. ‘But we have to hear it; we have to face it. But if we keep inhaling and exhaling, we will prevail’
Jane Fonda’s father Henry was a member of the original Committee for the First Amendment, which was founded in 1947 in opposition to HUAC. She later revived the organization in 2025
Fonda – who hosted the concert – was joined at one point by the comedian and The Bear star Ayo Edebiri
Joy Reid favored an elegant white suit with a matching low-cut blouse
Tessa Thompson stayed on the same theme and rocked a tan double-breasted suit with concealed jacket buttons. She appeared to go topless under that jacket, and she wore her long raven hair down in waves
Patti Smith was pictured displaying a joyous smile and raising her fist in the air in a sign of power and solidarity. She wore a simple black sport coat with black jeans and a cream-colored blouse
Lily Gladstone, who was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actress for her acclaimed performance opposite Leonardo DiCaprio in Martin Scorsese’s western crime epic Killers Of The Flower Moon, wore a dark brown canvas jacket with a corduroy collar and black jeans
Beloved children’s entertainer and YouTube star Ms. Rachel wore her standard uniform of a pink T-shirt and denim overalls for a performance on stage with the Peace Poets
She stepped back on stage at one point to allow Edebiri to speak.
The comedian and star of The Bear dressed down a black blazer with a white shirt and a baseball cap.
When it was her turn at the podium, Reid favored a brilliant white suit and a matching low-cut blouse.
Tessa Thompson stayed on the same theme and rocked a tan double-breasted suit with concealed jacket buttons.
She appeared to go topless under that jacket, and she wore her long raven hair down in waves.
Patti Smith was pictured displaying a joyous smile and raising her fist in the air in a sign of power and solidarity.
She wore a simple black sport coat with black jeans and a cream-colored blouse.
Actress Lily Gladstone – who was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actress for her acclaimed performance opposite Leonardo DiCaprio in Martin Scorsese’s western crime epic Killers Of The Flower Moon – wore a dark brown canvas jacket with a corduroy collar and black jeans.
The beloved children’s entertainer and YouTube star Ms. Rachel wore her standard uniform of a pink T-shirt and denim overalls for a performance on stage with the Peace Poets.
