Trump Lashes Out at De Niro After Podcast Criticism

President calls actor "sick and demented" with "extremely low IQ" in social media tirade

Published on Feb. 27, 2026

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President Trump has fired back at actor Robert De Niro after the Goodfellas star called Trump "an idiot" and "failing, flailing, and desperate" during a recent podcast interview. In a lengthy social media post, Trump described De Niro as "sick and demented" with an "extremely low IQ" and accused him of saying things that are "seriously criminal." The president also compared De Niro to another Trump critic, comedian Rosie O'Donnell, whom he said is "probably somewhat smarter" than the actor.

Why it matters

The ongoing feud between Trump and De Niro, both outspoken public figures, highlights the deep political divisions in the country and the willingness of both sides to engage in personal attacks. The president's harsh rhetoric towards the actor also raises questions about his approach to handling criticism from prominent critics.

The details

De Niro's comments came during a podcast interview with MSNBC's Nicolle Wallace, where he described Trump as "destroying" the country and said "we have to save the country." The 82-year-old actor is a longtime critic of Trump and has previously said he'd like to punch the president. Trump's response on social media accused De Niro of having an "extremely low IQ" and said his comments were "seriously criminal." The president also mocked De Niro for "crying like a child" at a recent anti-Trump event in Washington.

  • De Niro made his comments about Trump on a recent podcast interview with MSNBC's Nicolle Wallace.
  • Trump posted his response on social media on Wednesday, February 26, 2026.

The players

Robert De Niro

An acclaimed 82-year-old actor known for his roles in films like Goodfellas. De Niro has been a longtime critic of President Trump, previously saying he'd like to punch the president.

Donald Trump

The former president of the United States, who has engaged in a long-running feud with actor Robert De Niro. Trump lashed out at De Niro on social media, calling him "sick and demented" with an "extremely low IQ."

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What they’re saying

“an idiot" and "failing, flailing, and desperate”

— Robert De Niro, Actor (MSNBC)

“sick and demented" with an "extremely low IQ" and accused him of saying things that are "seriously criminal.”

— Donald Trump, Former President (Truth Social)

The takeaway

The ongoing feud between Trump and De Niro highlights the deep political divisions in the country and the willingness of both sides to engage in personal attacks. The president's harsh rhetoric towards the actor also raises questions about his approach to handling criticism from prominent critics.