De Niro Urges Americans to Join Anti-Trump Protests

Hollywood icon Robert De Niro has released a new video, passionately calling upon U.S. citizens to “stand up and be counted” in upcoming nationwide demonstrations against a potential second presidency for Donald Trump. These protests are slated for Saturday across the country.

In the video message, the acclaimed two-time Oscar-winning actor sharply criticizes Trump, portraying him as a burgeoning authoritarian who seeks to dismantle American democracy. De Niro emphasizes that the nation’s democratic foundation has endured significant historical challenges, including both World War I and World War II.

De Niro’s Stark Warning: “King Donald the First”

“We have a would-be king who wants to take it away: king Donald the first,” De Niro declares in the clip, before adding a blunt “Fuck that.” The star, celebrated for his roles in classics like *GoodFellas* and *The Godfather Part II*, then appeals to Americans to “nonviolently [raise] our voices” during the Saturday protests.

These planned demonstrations are a continuation of similar events dubbed “No Kings” rallies, which took place on June 14. Those earlier protests garnered a significant turnout, drawing millions of participants to approximately 2,000 distinct locations nationwide. “I’m … asking you to stand up and be counted in the nationwide ‘No Kings’ protest” on Saturday, De Niro reiterates in his video.

Evoking a powerful line from the widely recited U.S. pledge of allegiance, he concludes his message with a unifying call: “We’re all in this together – indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.”

The “No Kings” Movement and Its Roots

The “No Kings” theme is the brainchild of the decentralized 50501 movement, an organization founded in opposition to the policies of the Trump administration. The name “50501” represents its core strategy: 50 states, 50 protests, and one unified movement.

The June “No Kings” actions were organized amidst escalating tensions, as the Trump administration deployed National Guard troops and U.S. Marines to Los Angeles. These deployments were intended to counter protests against intensified deportations and immigration enforcement measures enacted at the president’s directive. Since then, the administration has extended military deployments to other major U.S. cities, including Washington D.C., Chicago, Portland, and Memphis.

These military presences were ostensibly to support federal agents in immigration crackdowns or to combat crime. However, this occurred even as some of the affected communities had been reporting notable reductions in violent crime rates.

As the nation heads into Saturday’s protests, a recent Morning Consult poll, conducted between October 10 and 12, estimated President Trump’s public approval rating at -8, indicating a significant level of disapproval among the electorate.

Source: The Guardian