De Niro Praises “No Kings” Protests, Warns Trump “Will Not Leave the White House”
A surge of nationwide demonstrations against former President Donald Trump, dubbed the “No Kings” protests, received a significant boost of support this weekend from actor Robert De Niro, who warned that continued pressure is vital as Trump “does not want to leave the White House.”
De Niro appeared on MSNBC’s The Weekend on Sunday, using the platform to condemn attempts to subvert democratic processes and to applaud the growing resistance to a potential return to power by the former president. The actor’s comments come as concerns mount regarding Trump’s continued influence and his rhetoric suggesting a reluctance to accept the results of future elections.
Drawing a parallel to the nation’s founding, De Niro emphasized the historical significance of rejecting authoritarian rule. “The original No Kings protest was 250 years ago,” he stated, referencing the American Revolution and the colonists’ rejection of British monarchy. “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, and we fought in two World Wars to preserve it.”
The actor didn’t mince words in his assessment of the current political climate. “Now we have a would-be king who wants to take it away? King Donald I. Fuck that,” De Niro declared. “We are rising up again this time. Nonviolently raising our voices to declare ‘No Kings.’”
Estimates suggest that approximately seven million Americans participated in the “No Kings” marches across all 50 states on Saturday, marking the second major iteration of the protests following an initial effort on June 14. De Niro expressed his satisfaction with the turnout, but stressed the need for sustained engagement. “We need much more of it going forward, because that’s the only thing that the politicians are going to recognize,” he said. “Either face the wrath of Trump or the wrath of the people, and they have to be more afraid of the wrath of the people and realize this is not good.”
De Niro’s impassioned plea extended to a call for direct action. “I better strap on my balls and do something about it,” he asserted, underscoring the urgency he feels regarding the situation.
He further warned against complacency, stating, “We can’t let up. Cannot let up on him because he is not going to leave the White House. He does not want to leave the White House. He will not leave the White House. Anybody thinks he, oh, he’ll do this, he’ll do that. It’s just deluding themselves. The Republicans, most of all, because they know, but they’re going along with it.” De Niro characterized the situation as a “classic bully situation,” arguing that the only effective response is to confront and resist.
Joining the chorus of voices supporting the protests, actor John Cusack marched in Chicago and delivered a scathing rebuke to Trump during an appearance on CNN. “No, you can’t put troops on our streets,” Cusack stated. “You can’t create enough chaos to invoke the Insurrection Act so you can stay in power. We all know what your plan is.” He concluded with a defiant, “Go to hell!”
The “No Kings” movement represents a growing wave of activism fueled by concerns over the future of American democracy and the potential for the erosion of established norms. The sustained participation of millions, coupled with the support of prominent figures like De Niro and Cusack, signals a determination to hold power accountable and safeguard the principles of a government “of the people, by the people, for the people.”
