Megyn Kelly Slams Robert De Niro’s Anti-Trump Remarks: “He’s the Poster Child for Trump Derangement Syndrome”

In a fiery segment on The Megyn Kelly Show, former Fox News anchor Megyn Kelly delivered a scathing rebuke of actor Robert De Niro, following his latest public condemnation of former President Donald Trump. Kelly didn’t hold back, accusing De Niro of being politically ineffective and out of touch — calling his recent comments “colossally stupid.”

The clash comes in the wake of De Niro’s remarks at a press conference, where he once again denounced Trump, describing him as a destructive force capable of ruining not only New York City but the entire country — and even, in De Niro’s words, “the whole world.”

“This city is amazing,” De Niro said. “I don’t wish to ruin it. But they’ll destroy the nation as well as the city. And ultimately, he might even destroy the entire globe.”

Kelly Responds: “It’s So Stupid”

On her SiriusXM podcast, Kelly called out De Niro’s remarks, questioning both the effectiveness and relevance of his political activism.

“It was colossally stupid — it’s so stupid,” Kelly said bluntly. “If you’re going to send someone to speak at a politically sensitive event, send someone who is respected across the board. Robert De Niro has become so partisan over the past eight years that he’s basically the poster child for Trump Derangement Syndrome.”

Kelly criticized De Niro not only for his tone but for what she saw as a lack of self-awareness about his impact — or lack thereof — on political outcomes.

“Why does he think he can make a difference now,” she asked, “when he couldn’t even move the needle in 2016?”

A History of Political Commentary

Kelly referenced a moment from her time at Fox News when she landed what she described as an exclusive with De Niro — capturing his first major public attack on Trump during the 2016 presidential race.

“We had De Niro on tape ranting about Trump,” she recalled. “It was the first time he really came out swinging politically — and we broke that footage on my show. He was campaigning against Trump alongside Hillary Clinton, and it didn’t stop the outcome then.”

Since that moment, De Niro has become one of Hollywood’s most vocal Trump critics, frequently launching into impassioned, often profanity-laced tirades in interviews and public speeches. While his comments have earned him standing ovations in left-leaning circles, they’ve also made him a lightning rod for criticism — particularly from conservative media figures like Kelly.

The Strategy Problem

Kelly suggested that De Niro’s emotional outbursts may do more harm than good, especially in an era when many Americans are exhausted by political hostility.

“If your goal is to persuade independents or moderates,” she said, “Robert De Niro isn’t the guy to send. He’s already alienated half the country.”

She continued, “There’s a difference between expressing your opinion and becoming so wrapped up in your rage that people stop listening. At this point, De Niro is preaching to a choir that’s already clapping.”

A Reflection of a Deeper Divide

The Kelly-De Niro clash isn’t just about two public figures disagreeing. It reflects the broader cultural divide between Hollywood liberalism and right-leaning media, with both sides frequently accusing the other of bad faith, misinformation, or political grandstanding.

De Niro has framed his anti-Trump rhetoric as a moral obligation. In contrast, Kelly sees it as ineffective, overly emotional, and ultimately counterproductive.

Her critique also underscores a broader point being echoed across conservative circles: that celebrity activism, particularly when wrapped in anger, often does little to change minds — and may, in fact, solidify divisions.

What’s Next for De Niro — and the Discourse

It remains to be seen whether De Niro’s continued activism will have any measurable political impact in the lead-up to the 2024 presidential election. What is clear is that his rhetoric is becoming increasingly controversial, even within moderate political spaces.

Kelly’s remarks, while sharp, articulate a growing sentiment on the right — that figures like De Niro serve as easy targets and ineffective messengers in the larger battle for public opinion.

“If you want to win hearts and minds,” Kelly concluded, “start by picking messengers who haven’t already burned bridges with half the country.”