By The Smartencyclopedia Staff Writer with Agencies

Hollywood icon Robert De Niro has weighed in on former President Donald Trump’s recent conviction in a New York court. Trump was found guilty on all counts of falsifying business records to conceal a hush-money payment to porn actor Stormy Daniels during the 2016 presidential election.

This conviction marks the first time a current or former U.S. president has been convicted of a crime. The jury concluded that Trump attempted to silence Daniels to influence the election’s outcome.

Speaking on the red carpet of his new movie Ezra, De Niro commented, “I think justice was served. This is just one part of the whole picture, so I must be very careful.” He implied that the conviction could significantly impact the upcoming presidential election, where Trump is anticipated to be the Republican candidate.

“This never should have gotten to this stage,” De Niro continued. “I don’t want to be talking, but I am so upset. I have to say something. This is my country. This guy wants to destroy it. Period. He’s crazy.”

Earlier in the week, De Niro garnered attention by appearing outside Trump’s hush-money trial in New York, labeling the former president a “monster.” The actor insisted that Trump should never again be allowed to hold the office of President of the United States.

“People know that, and many people know that and are afraid to say something, but people have to speak up now and acknowledge to themselves that he’s a monster,” De Niro told Sky News. “This is the moment of truth for this country. Period.”

In response, Trump took to Truth Social to criticize De Niro, calling the Taxi Driver and Goodfellas star a “wacko” with an “incurable case of Trump derangement syndrome.” The feud between De Niro and Trump dates back to before the 2016 election when Trump was preparing for his candidacy.

The Killers of the Flower Moon star has repeatedly criticized Trump in various talk show interviews and award show speeches, leading Trump to retaliate by calling De Niro “a very low IQ individual who has received too many shots to the head by real boxers in movies.”

As the nation continues to deal with the ramifications of Trump’s conviction, De Niro’s remarks underscore the deep divisions and passionate responses that define the current American political landscape.