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De Niro Moved to Tears as Poehler Praises His Trump Criticism
ReDe Niro Moved to Tears as Poehler Praises His Trump Criticism
Robert De Niro grew emotional during an interview on Amy Poehler's podcast when she thanked him for speaking out against President Donald Trump, praising his willingness to use his platform as a powerful white man to confront political leadership.
Robert De Niro became visibly emotional during a conversation with Amy Poehler when the actress and comedian thanked him for his persistent public criticism of President Donald Trump, telling the Oscar-winning actor that his willingness to speak out from a position of power made others feel safe.
The exchange occurred during an interview on Poehler's podcast, «Good Hang.» Poehler told De Niro she wanted to personally thank him for «speaking out in the way that you do about where we are in the world.» She noted that people asked to speak truth to power are typically from marginalized groups — young people, people of color, and women — who lack the standing and influence that De Niro commands.
Poehler compared the current political moment to a wedding ruined by a terrible speech, saying De Niro was like the adult in the room who steps in and says, «We don't talk like that. That's not how you're supposed to treat people. This is insane.» She told him his actions made everyone feel «safe.»
De Niro, 82, grew teary-eyed as he thanked her for the sentiment. Poehler expanded on her point, observing that not many men in De Niro's position — white men of a certain age with substantial power — use their responsibility in the way he has. «So, thank you,» she said.
The actor responded that watching events unfold in the United States was «so upsetting» and «so crazy.» He suggested that the blatancy of current political conduct might ultimately serve a purpose, because it will happen again and influence others who might think they can behave the same way. «We have to always be on guard with what's happening now,» De Niro said, adding that people must fight even when they feel hopeless.
The interview drew a sharp response from Christian Toto, editor of the outlet Hollywood in Toto, who told Fox News Digital that Poehler is «one of our most talented comic actresses» but «just as clueless about the culture as most celebrities.» Toto said De Niro has «beclown[ed] himself over all things Trump» for the past decade, calling his attacks «ill-informed» and «embarrassing.» He argued that De Niro has done nothing to raise the level of public discourse and that his political commentary has made many people look askance at his film career. «He's neither brave nor inspired,» Toto said. «He's simply regurgitating what all his peers think and say.»
De Niro has been one of the most prominent celebrity critics of Trump for years. In a February 2026 interview on Nicolle Wallace's podcast, «The Best People,» he grew emotional while discussing the state of the country. Wallace noted his role as an outspoken critic and asked what he worried about for New York under the Trump administration. De Niro expressed concern about retribution against New Yorkers, including the possibility of ICE agents being sent in.
«People have to resist, resist, resist, resist, resist,» he said at the time. «That's the only way. There's no magic.» He warned that even if Trump were to die from illness, parts of the movement would remain, calling that «the scary part» and saying it «has to be neutralized by the people.»
When Wallace recalled his 1981 Academy Award speech in which he thanked those he worked with and asked why he emphasized lifting people up, De Niro began to cry. «You have to,» he said. «You have to lift people up. You have to bring them together. Period. You can't divide people. You can't win that way. It's a no-win situation.»
De Niro claimed in June that he cannot love an America led by Trump. His latest emotional moment on Poehler's podcast underscores the intensity of his ongoing political engagement and the divide his activism has created among audiences and commentators.
