Robert De Niro launches tirade against Donald Trump outside criminal trial

Robert De Niro made an unexpected appearance outside Donald Trump’s criminal trial in Manhattan, as defence lawyers demand an acquittal | WATCH

Robert De Niro speaks in support of US President Joe Biden outside the Manhattan Criminal Court. Picture: AFP.

Actor Robert De Niro has launched a scathing attack on Donald Trump outside the former president’s criminal trial in Manhattan, accusing the GOP presidential frontrunner of wanting to “destroy the world”.

The 80-year-old actor and New York City local, who’s made no secret of his loathing of Mr Trump in the past, gave an unexpected press conference on Tuesday (Wednesday AEST) flanked by senior Biden campaign officials, as the defence and prosecution began their closing arguments inside the courtroom.

“If Trump returns to the White House, you can kiss these freedoms goodbye that we all take for granted. And elections — forget about it. That’s over, that’s done. If he gets in, I can tell you right now, he will never leave,” Mr DeNiro told assembled reporters.

“Donald Trump wants to destroy not only the city, but the country. And eventually he could destroy the world,” the star of Godfather Part II and Taxi Driver added.

His appearance made for a chaotic scene as a loud car horn blared throughout his remarks, which latest at least 10 minutes, while a throng of nearby Trump supporters soon began to loudly heckle the Academy Award winner.

“Your movies suck You’re trash,” one yelled; “You’re washed up”, said another.

De Niro shot back: “F..k you”.

“You’re not going to intimidate,” De Niro continued in a performance that social media quickly dubbed a ‘meltdown’. “That’s what Trump does. … We are going to fight back. We’re trying to be gentlemen in this world, the Democrats. You are gangsters!”

Eric and Donald Trump Jr outside the court. Picture: Getty Images via AFP.

The veteran actor’s intervention came days before the 12-member jury is expected to deliver a verdict on Mr Trump’s unprecedented criminal trial, over allegations he made hush money payments in 2016 via his then lawyer Michael Cohen in order to conceal an affair with a former adult film star from voters.

Democrats are hoping for a conviction on all 34 felony charges, which in theory could land Mr Trump in jail for up to four years absent an almost certain appeal over a trial whose legal merits have divided experts. The ruling party has struggled to make political leverage out of Mr Trump’s varied legal woes; Mr Biden, 81, trails his predecessor in most nationally polls, and most clearly in battleground states.

Inside the State Supreme Court chief Trump lawyer Todd Blanche delivered the defence’s closing remarks, stressing the unreliability of the prosecution’s star witness, Mr Cohen, a convicted fraudster who admitted he had stolen from Mr Trump during earlier cross examination.

Mr Blanche told the jury the first ever criminal prosecution of a former US president was based on “lies.”

The trial “isn’t a referendum on your views of president Trump” or “who you plan on voting for in 2024,” he said. Prosecutors had failed to prove their case beyond a reasonable doubt, and the only outcome should be a “very quick and easy not guilty verdict.” “President Trump is innocent,” he added.

“This is a very dangerous day for America. It’s a very sad day,” Mr Trump, 77, said in remarks to the media before heading into the Manhattan courtroom Tuesday morning local time, reiterating his oft-made criticism of a trial that has prevented him from campaigning freely around the country for weeks.

Jurors agreed to Judge Juan Merchan’s request to stay later on Tuesday in the hope of finishing closing arguments, leaving the jury to begin deliberations on Wednesday local time, holding out the possibly of a verdict by the end of the week.

Mr De Niro is among numerous stars, including Julia Roberts, Stephen Colbert and George Clooney, have done or are scheduled to participate in Joe Biden fund raising events.

Jason Miller, a Trump campaign official, gave his own press conference after Mr De Niro’s, contrasting Mr Trump’s appearance at a campaign rally last week in the Bronx that drew thousands with Democrat polling numbers that were “in the tank”.

“The best that Biden can do is roll out a washed-up actor,” he said.