WASHINGTON — President Trump revived his feud with Robert De Niro on Friday, saying that the Democrat-backing actor was a “gross” moron who has “something wrong with him” — as he discussed possible tax credits for Hollywood.
Trump veered into attacking the 83-year-old celebrity while mentioning his own former reality TV show “The Apprentice” at a campaign rally in Daytona Beach, Fla., for Republican gubernatorial candidate Byron Donalds.
Trump said his show “beat what used to be a great show, the Academy Awards,” lamented the celebrity fest now “sucks because people get up and use foul language about your favorite president.”
“By the way, is Robert De Niro a moron? He’s a moron,” Trumps said — seemingly still fuming over De Niro’s “F–k Trump” speech at the 2018 Tony Awards.
“No, there’s something wrong with him. I used to sort of like him or something, but now I can’t even watch him. He’s like gross. Then he goes into the comedies. He’s no good for comedies. Maybe somebody should tell him, but he’s terrible.”
The “Taxi Driver” star won two Academy Awards — for “The Godfather Part II” and “Raging Bull.” His best-known comedic roles later in his career include his role as a father in “Meet the Parents” in 2000.
It’s unclear what exactly sparked Trump’s ire at De Niro, though the actor has been fundraising for Democrats ahead of the Tuesday midterm elections, including with an email solicitation attacking the “Trump/Epstein class,” connecting the president to the late sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein.
Trump also claimed Hollywood executives are “kissing my ass” seeking new film tax credits.
“Guys that have been saying bad crap about me for years are sitting in my office. ‘Sir, it’s a great honor to be with you, sir,’” Trump told his audience.
“See, the great thing about the Internet is that all you do is you press a button, and it tells you everything they’ve said for the last 20 years,” he added, before impersonating a visiting Hollywood rep pleading, “Sir, I’d like to just say before we begin, I was misquoted when I called you an a–hole.
“They misquoted me. I didn’t say that, sir!’”
