The Biden campaign made the questionable decision to hold a news conference outside the New York City courthouse where former President Donald Trump was present on Tuesday morning, but they were not the only members of the campaign.
Also at the Biden campaign event were actor Robert De Niro and police officers Michael Fanone and Harry Dunn, who were each there to speak to the media about the “threat” that Trump poses to the US.
A Biden campaign spokesman said they were not there to listen to what was happening inside the courtroom, but to speak to the assembled media, but added, “The contrast here almost speaks for itself. As we speak, Donald Trump is somewhere fighting for himself, maybe taking a power nap. And we have been watching for weeks and months now, here, at Mar-a-Lago, at Truth Social, wherever he is, the incoherent ramblings of a crazy, power-hungry, egocentric man.”
When it was De Niro’s turn to speak, he referenced the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks and said that like the terrorists who attacked New York City, Trump would destroy the Big Apple, the United States, and possibly the world.
“The Twin Towers fell here and there. This part of our city was like a ghost town, but we vowed not to let the terrorists change our way of life. And I started the TriBeCa Festival to bring people back. I love this city. I love this city. I don’t want to destroy it. Donald Trump wants to destroy not only the city, but the country and ultimately maybe the world,” De Niro said.
“If Trump returns to the White House, say goodbye to these freedoms.”
“But we made a vow not to tolerate terrorists… I owe this city a lot. That’s why it’s so strange to have Donald Trump across the street. He doesn’t belong in my city. I don’t know where he belongs, but he certainly doesn’t belong here. We New Yorkers tolerated him when he was just a dirty real estate guy… when some big shot was a spokesman, pretending to be his own spokesman,” he continued.
As De Niro began to praise Dunn and Fanone, someone off-camera could be heard telling De Niro that they lied in their affidavits about what they did during the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the Capitol.
“Who lied under oath?” De Niro asked.
“Two traitors behind you,” the man replied.
“What are you talking about?” De Niro demanded.
“They are traitors,” the man claimed.
De Niro grew indignant during the exchange, and tried to convince Dan and Fanon that they were fighting for their country.
“They stood there and fought. For us! For all of you!” the actor shouted.
“They didn’t fight for me,” the man retorted.
“If Trump returns to the White House, goodbye to all these freedoms that we take for granted. And what about the election? Forget it. It’s over. It’s over. If he becomes president, I can tell you right now, he’s never going to go away. He’s never going to go away. You know that. He’s never going to go away,” De Niro continued.
Outside observers have pointed to the unflattering effect of the Biden campaign holding a press conference in the middle of closing arguments in Trump’s trial, further lending credence to the trial being purely politically motivated.
