Techpreneur and X owner Elon Musk blasted actor Robert De Niro this week for comparing former President Donald Trump to Nazi dictator Adolf Hitler.
De Niro had made the comments about Trump during an interview on MSNBC in which he said, “I think other people are going to have to stand up and just — because it’s either that or you’re gonna find yourself in a situation that is so terrifying.”
“We always hear about people from Eastern Europe, the Jews from other parts of Eastern Europe, from Western Europe, coming over, look what happened in France with the Nazis and so on,” he added.
De Niro went on to say that there was “not one redeeming thing” he can see in Trump. Saying that he “can’t be anywhere near the office of the presidency,” he criticized those who will be voting for the former president in the 2024 election.
“I don’t understand it. I don’t, I don’t think they understand how dangerous it will be if he ever, God forbid, becomes president. I don’t think they really understand,” he stated before going on to compare Trump to some of the worst figures in history.
“And historically, from what I’ve seen, even in Nazi Germany, they had it with Hitler. They don’t take him seriously. ‘He looks like a clown. Acts like a clown.’ Mussolini. Same thing. These guys, I don’t know why, they look like clowns,” he stated.
De Niro’s remarks attracted ire from Musk, who pointed out that Trump’s first time in office does not paint any picture of semblance to Hitler.
“Well, Trump was actually already president for 4 years and his policies bore no resemblance to those of Hitler, so this makes no sense. In fact, with the Abraham Accords, he made some progress towards peace in the Middle East, which was definitely not high on Hitler’s agenda,” he wrote.
Well, Trump was actually already president for 4 years and his policies bore no resemblance to those of Hitler, so this makes no sense.
In fact, with the Abraham Accords, he made some progress towards peace in the Middle East, which was definitely not high on Hitler’s agenda.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) May 3, 2024
De Niro has dished out many anti-Trump rhetoric in the last decade. Standing tall among his many anti-Trump tirades is an outburst on stage during the 2018 Tony Awards, where he clenched his fists and said, “I’m gonna say one thing: F— Trump! It’s no longer down with Trump, it’s f— Trump!”
He also compared Trump to his villain character he played in 2023 crime drama, “Killer of The Flower Moon.”
“It’s the banality of evil, and we see it now with — I’m not going to say the name because that guy is stupid… It’s like with Trump — I had to say it,” he stated, adding, “There are people who think he could do a good job. Imagine how insane that is.”