Broadcasters group rescinds De Niro award over Trump courthouse presser
The National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) is pulling an award it had planned to give actor Robert De Niro after the Oscar winner made an appearance this week on behalf of the Biden campaign outside the courthouse where former President Trump’s hush money trial is taking place.
De Niro was slated to receive the NAB Leadership Foundation’s Service to America Award next Tuesday in Washington, D.C., but after his heated remarks outside the courthouse, the organization rescinded the award, a spokesperson for the group confirmed to The Hill.
“This event is proudly bipartisan, uniting those from across the political spectrum to celebrate the impactful work of local broadcasters and our partners,” the spokesperson said in a statement. “While we strongly support the right of every American to exercise free speech and participate in civic engagement, it is clear that Mr. De Niro’s recent high-profile activities will create a distraction from the philanthropic work that we were hoping to recognize. To maintain the focus on service of the award winners, Mr. De Niro will no longer be attending the event.”
“I support the work of the NAB Leadership Foundation and would like to express my appreciation and gratitude for what the Foundation has done and will continue to do for the good of us all, and I wish them well for their continued good work,” De Niro told The Hill in a statement.
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De Niro, who has been a frequent critic of Trump through the years, had been scheduled to receive the NAB award, its highest individual honor, “in recognition of charitable work and public service.”
Live Updates: Jury finds Trump guilty on 34 counts; first president convicted of felony
During his press conference outside the courthouse Tuesday, he tore into Trump, who is awaiting a verdict on 34 counts of falsifying business records to conceal payments made to an adult film star just before the 2016 election.
“I don’t mean to scare you. No no, wait, maybe I do mean to scare you. If Trump returns to the White House, you can kiss away these freedoms that we take for granted, and elections, forget about it … He will never leave,” De Niro said.
President Biden’s campaign has since sent out multiple fundraising emails over De Niro’s press conference, which Trump blasted on his Truth Social account.
“Robert, whose movies, artistry, and brand have gone WAY DOWN IN VALUE since he entered the political arena at the request of Crooked Joe Biden, looked so pathetic and sad out there,” Trump wrote. “Where have you gone Joe DiMaggio!!!”
Judy Kurtz contributed.
Updated: 5:34 p.m.
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