Robert De Niro Tears Up After Amy Poehler Praises His Activism, Then Renews Trump Criticism

Robert De Niro became emotional after Amy Poehler thanked him for speaking publicly about political issues, during an interview in which the veteran actor also described Donald Trump’s leadership as a “clown show.”

 

 

 

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Robert De Niro became visibly emotional during the September 15 episode of Good Hang with Amy Poehler after the host thanked him for repeatedly using his public platform to speak about political and social issues.

Poehler told De Niro that influential figures with his level of recognition can provide reassurance when they speak publicly, particularly because political advocacy often falls to younger people or marginalized communities.

As Poehler continued praising his willingness to speak out, De Niro began tearing up. She noticed his reaction, paused the conversation, and jokingly celebrated the unexpected moment before offering him tissues.

The exchange was warm rather than confrontational. Poehler framed her comments as personal gratitude for De Niro’s willingness to use his fame and status, while De Niro listened quietly before responding.

When Poehler asked what he would tell people who feel discouraged by politics, De Niro said people still have to keep fighting and joining with others rather than withdrawing completely.

He then emphasized collective courage, using the phrase “courage is contagious” while encouraging people who share concerns about the country’s direction to support one another and remain publicly engaged.

Earlier in the interview, Trump came up during a discussion about Saturday Night Live producer Lorne Michaels, whom De Niro praised for sustaining the show and managing a major institution for decades.

De Niro contrasted Michaels’ leadership with President Donald Trump, referring to what he called the “clown show with Trump” and arguing that Michaels represented a better example of leadership.

Poehler briefly agreed with De Niro’s leadership comparison before the conversation returned to Saturday Night Live, including the program’s 50th-anniversary celebration and De Niro’s long relationship with the show.

The political exchange represented only a small portion of an interview lasting more than an hour, which also covered De Niro’s childhood, acting career, family life, friendships and creative collaborations.

De Niro discussed growing up in New York City with artist parents and reflected on his early years as an actor, including the reserved personality that has often shaped his public interviews.

The conversation also revisited his decades-long collaboration with Martin Scorsese, whose films with De Niro include Taxi Driver, Raging Bull, Goodfellas, Casino and The Irishman.

Poehler and De Niro also discussed Saturday Night Live, where the actor has appeared repeatedly over the years, including sketches that played on his serious screen persona and political reputation.

The episode promoted Tribeca 25, a documentary marking the festival’s first quarter-century and recounting how De Niro, Jane Rosenthal and Craig Hatkoff helped build Tribeca after the September 11 attacks.

He also discussed Focker-In-Law, the latest installment in the Meet the Parents franchise, in which he returns as Jack Byrnes alongside Ben Stiller and several new cast members.

De Niro’s criticism of Trump did not begin with the podcast. The actor has repeatedly spoken against Trump in interviews, award ceremonies and other public appearances over several years.

At the Cannes Film Festival in May 2025, De Niro used his honorary Palme d’Or acceptance speech to criticize Trump and object to the president’s proposed tariff on films produced outside America.

Those remarks reflected De Niro’s broader pattern of political commentary, but they remain his personal political views rather than findings about Trump’s leadership or the administration’s policies.

The social-media headline linking Poehler’s thanks directly to the phrase “clown show” compresses two separate moments: Poehler broadly praised De Niro’s advocacy, while De Niro independently used that phrase about Trump.

The most notable moment was therefore both personal and political: Poehler’s praise unexpectedly moved De Niro to tears, while the interview again highlighted his longstanding willingness to criticize Trump publicly.