The Biden campaign faced nonstop heckles and jeers during a press conference outside the Manhattan criminal court where former President Donald Trump is listening to closing arguments in his hush money trial.
Joining Biden’s team were “special guests” Michael Fanone and Harry Dunn, two highly political and attention-seeking Jan. 6 Capitol police officers, and far-left actor Robert De Niro, who warned that Trump, if elected, “could destroy the world.”
The actor, who arrived at the presser wearing a face mask, seemed angry and rattled by cacophonous anti-Biden catcalls.
“I mean this is really … even these people over here are kinda … it’s kinda crazy,” De Niro complained when it was his turn to speak. “This thing, Donald Trump, has created this,” the actor added bitterly. “He should be telling them not to do this … but he wants to sow total chaos.”
Struggling to be heard over loud chants of “f-ck Joe Biden!,” De Niro accused Trump of wanting “to destroy not only the city, but the country, and eventually, he could destroy the world.”
De Niro went on to say that it was “weird” that the former president was in the courtroom across the street because “he doesn’t belong in my city.”
“I owe this city a lot. And that’s why it’s so weird that Donald Trump is just across the street because he doesn’t belong in my city. I don’t know where he belongs, but he certainly doesn’t belong here. We New Yorkers used to tolerate him when he was just another grubby real estate hustler masquerading as a big shot,” he said.
“I don’t mean to scare you. No, wait, maybe I do mean to scare you,” De Niro continued. “If Trump returns to the White House, you can kiss these freedoms goodbye that we all take for granted.”
“And elections. Forget about it. That’s over. That’s done,” the actor continued. “If he gets in. I can tell you right now. He will never leave. He will never leave. You know that. He will never leave,” he ranted.
“The only way to preserve our freedoms and hold on to our humanity is to vote for Joe Biden for president,” De Niro declared.
The point of the presser was purportedly “to draw a stark contrast” between Trump’s campaign as it is hobbled by multiple political prosecutions, and Joe Biden’s allegedly more dignified and presidential campaign.
Joe Biden’s communication director Michael Tyler told reporters that they chose the Manhattan venue to capitalize on the media presence outside the courtroom.
“We’re not here today because of what’s going on over there,” Tyler said. “We’re here today because you all are here,” he added.
Fanone and Dunn took the opportunity to discuss the Jan 6 riot and warned that a second Trump term would lead to authoritarianism.
“At the end of the day, this election is about Donald Trump and his vision for the office of the president of the United States, not as a public servant who answers to the elected, to the people who elected him, but as an authoritarian, who answers to and serves only himself,” Fanone said.
After the presser, De Niro clashed with Trump supporters, angrily calling them “gangsters.”
After the Biden Camp finished its press conference, Jason Miller, a Trump campaign advisor came out and spoke with reporters.
“Why is Joe Biden making this [the New York Trump trial] a campaign event after months of weaponizing the legal system against President Trump?” asked Miller. “Because Joe Biden’s numbers are in the tank.”
“Last week, President Trump spoke in the Bronx where over 25,000 people showed up to rally around him,” Miller continued. “And the best the Biden campaign could do was to put out a web video with Robert Ne Niro.”
He added: “There is nothing behind the Biden campaign. There numbers are in the toilet. Kamala Harris is a terrible alternative, and this was all an attempt to turn around the Biden campaign.”