Former President Donald Trump’s New York criminal trial has garnered significant attention, with closing arguments being heard by Judge Juan Merchan. As the trial unfolds, actor Robert De Niro and two former Jan. 6 police officers participated in a press conference on May 28, organized by President Joe Biden’s communication director Michael Tyler. The event aimed to shift the focus of the election narrative towards Trump’s role in the January 6 Capitol riot and the dangers they believe his potential return to the White House would pose.
President Trump claims that the Biden administration is responsible for his indictment, even though it is a state-level case. The press conference marked a notable turning point as President Biden’s campaign engaged with the trial after previously avoiding it for six weeks. Michael Tyler stated that they visited the Manhattan courthouse on May 28 because “you all are here,” referring to members of the media.
When questioned about potential political motivations behind the Biden campaign’s visit, Tyler emphasized that the media was already focused on the trial and suggested that it made sense for the campaign to engage with the issue at hand. However, neither President Biden nor any representatives from his administration directly commented on the case or addressed concerns about the political weaponization of the Justice Department in relation to Trump’s multiple criminal indictments.
The press conference did not delve into discussions about the trial itself but instead aimed to highlight the broader implications of a potential second Trump presidency. Robert De Niro, known for his roles in movies like “The Godfather Part 2,” “Taxi Driver,” and “Goodfellas,” appeared in a Biden campaign ad the week before the press conference, criticizing President Trump and his reelection platform.
During the event, De Niro warned that if Trump were to return to the White House, it could result in the loss of various freedoms that Americans currently take for granted. He also argued that New Yorkers, including himself, used to tolerate Trump, but he now wants to “destroy” New York City and ultimately the world.
De Niro faced some opposition from supporters of Trump, with one man accusing former police officers Michael Fanone and Harry Dunn of lying about their experiences during the January 6 Capitol riot. De Niro defended the two police officers, stating that they had fought for everyone’s safety.
Former DC police officer Fanone recounted a harrowing moment when Jan. 6 protesters tried to take his weapon and beat him while he was on duty. He claimed that Trump is not running for office as a public servant but rather an authoritarian figure who serves only himself. Former Capitol police officer Dunn urged Americans to “wake up” and recognize the threat posed by Trump, emphasizing that relying on institutions to stop him might not be enough.
In response to the press conference, President Trump’s senior campaign adviser Jason Miller referred to De Niro as a “washed-up actor,” implying that the event validated Trump’s allegations about the trial’s political motivations. The Trump campaign’s press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, also weighed in, stating that the event was a “full-blown concession that this trial is a witch hunt that comes from the top.