The Best People with Nicolle Wallace
Episode: "Yes, Robert De Niro is Talking to You"
Date: February 23, 2026
Guest: Robert De Niro
Host: Nicolle Wallace
Episode Overview
In this gripping episode, Nicolle Wallace sits down with legendary actor Robert De Niro for a frank, urgent conversation about the state of American democracy and the responsibility of citizens—and especially those in positions of influence—to speak out and take action in the face of rising authoritarianism. De Niro draws on his personal experiences, his observations as a New Yorker, and his long career as an observer of the human condition to reflect on the Trump years, the complicity of elites, and the existential stakes for the country. The tone is direct and emotional, mixing frustration and defiance with a call for unity, courage, and resistance.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
De Niro's Public Stance and Motivation
- Unwillingness to Stay Silent: De Niro speaks about feeling compelled to oppose Trumpism, even though "this is not what I want to be doing at my age."
"I don't see how I can't do or say something about this and be part of the opposition because it's, it's just, it's insane." (02:26)
- Alignment with Unlikely Allies: Politics has realigned social circles and collaborations.
"You run into people like you. ... You do find yourself aligned with people because there's a common interest, a common goal, a common need to defeat what's happening in this country." (02:26)
The Nature of Trumpism and Complicity
- Trump's Unfitness and Origins: De Niro never took Trump seriously in New York, describing him as unserious and unprepared for leadership.
"You never took him seriously as a New Yorker. ... people I knew who from different walks of life in New York never took him seriously." (03:07)
- Missed Opportunities by Republicans:
"When he did the, the first impeachment, the second one... McConnell had the chance, he blew it." (04:15)
- On J.D. Vance and Political Reversals:
"He made a complete about face. Well, how do you reconcile that? I don't understand it." (04:44)
Historical Parallels and Authoritarianism
- Warnings from History: Referencing Plato, Socrates, and the behavior of autocracies.
"These things, this is not all new to us. And with Trump, he's cruel, he's mean, he's sadistic." (04:52)
- Fear and Intimidation as Tools:
"He likes to rule by fear." (06:24)
"It's the people around him that say things that he goes, yeah, okay, I'll do that. ... those around him that are dangerous, like Stephen Miller." (06:36)
The Power and Cost of Speaking Out
- On Why De Niro Speaks Out:
"I would see him at these rallies saying things like ...'I want to punch him in the face.' ... That's not a person who cares about everybody is trying to unite." (07:04)
- Hollywood's Intimidation: Many remain silent due to fear or intimidation.
"Some people, you understand who are... intimidated. That's the big thing for me, intimidation. ... But courage is the same also. ... those people. That gives me the courage..." (13:31)
- De Niro on Personal Courage:
"I can't afford to be afraid. Of course you have anxiety. ... you got to defy this. ... You have to. It's better that you strap on your balls and get out there and face them..." (14:25)
Examples of Resistance and the Need for Mass Mobilization
- Minneapolis and Grassroots Resistance:
"Minneapolis... has a tradition of saying, wait, we're not going to be messed with in this way. ...they really are standing up and saying, we won't stand for this." (05:52)
- Military Veterans Speaking Out: Six lawmakers, veterans or security officials, take a stand and enrage Trump.
"Essential. Essential, Mark Kelly. Because the whole thing is crazy. They have the right to do that. They must do that." (09:01)
- On Peaceful Protests:
"It's up to the people. ... it's got to be way, way more than that." (19:53)
The Role and Failure of Elites
- Big Tech and the Superrich:
"I'm more concerned about the people who control those companies, the big tech bros who want to know better." (15:58)
"What more does [Bezos] need? The only thing he needs is integrity, and he lost his integrity by doing that." (16:23) - Obama's Critique: Wallace brings up President Obama's disappointment in elites who benefited most from America but are first to capitulate.
"They set an example, as they should. ...they owe the country something." (17:19)
- Shaming the Complicit:
"You should be ashamed. ...And there are other law firms that didn't capitulate. So we're proud of them." (18:22)
The Limits of Hope
- On Rejecting Hope:
"I don't use the word hope anymore." (17:52) "We hoped with Mueller, we hoped with this, we hoped with the election ...and it doesn't work." (17:59) Wallace: "Hope is the way to despair."
- Replacing Hope with Action and Shame:
"You should be ashamed. ...And there are other law firms that didn't capitulate. So we're proud of them." (18:22)
The Stakes: Democracy or Ruin
- Trump’s Impact and Refusal to Leave:
"He will never leave. We have to make him leave. ...He ain't leaving. No. No way." (18:45, 19:05)
- On Bullying and the Need for Collective Action:
"It's like, you know, people, bullies, gangs, mob stuff. It's all the small group that uses violence to intimidate everybody else." (24:01)
Art, Toughness, and Legacy
- Contrast with Trump’s Notion of Toughness:
"I'm not a tough guy. I play them. ...I'm a concerned citizen, period. But I do see what we're up against, and it makes me so angry." (26:01)
- On Lifting Others Up:
"You have to lift people up. ...You have to bring them together, period. You can't divide people. You can't win that way." (39:44)
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
- On American Identity:
"We are the Americans, too. ...there are more of us because we believe in what's right and wrong. Empathy, kindness, bringing the country together, not dispersing it." (21:16)
- On the Tech Elite:
"Musk is just a joke, but a dangerous joke." (30:47)
- On Resistance:
"Resist, resist, resist, resist. That's the only way there's no magic. There's no nothing." (37:35)
- On the Responsibility of the Privileged:
"They have a responsibility. ...They are the backbone of this country with what they have. They have to help save this country. They have to help protect this country." (29:36)
- On Leadership and Example:
"If you're not part of the solution, you're part of the problem." (33:27)
- On Cultural Legacy:
"You have to lift people up. ...You can't win that way. ...It's up to us to protect the country that we love." (39:44)
Key Timestamps for Important Segments
- De Niro Calls for Action, Not Fear: 00:59, 14:25
- De Niro on Responding to Trump, Alignment in Crisis: 02:26, 03:07
- Fear and Intimidation in Hollywood: 13:31
- Hope, Shame, and the Limits of Waiting: 17:52, 17:59, 18:22
- Mobilization and Role of the People: 19:55, 21:16, 19:03
- Words for the Elite: 15:58, 16:23, 29:36
- On the Medal of Freedom and the Meaning of Toughness: 24:44, 26:01
- On Tech Moguls’ Failures: 28:19, 29:12, 30:47
- On Movement Legacy and Art vs. Reality: 34:01
- Closing Calls for Courage and Resistance: 37:35, 40:34
Thematic Highlights
- Moral Urgency: The conversation is threaded with a sense of immediacy and an insistence on the moral clarity required now.
- Civic Duty and Courage: Both De Niro and Wallace circle back to the importance of courage, action, and breaking free from intimidation.
- Critique of Elites: Strong indictment of those with the most means failing to defend democracy.
- Personal Reflections: De Niro contrasts his iconic tough-guy roles with the real toughness he sees as needed now: moral determination, standing up for what’s right.
- Legacy and Inspiration: He closes with a call to bring people together, emphasizing unity and collective effort over division.
Conclusion
This episode is a searing, passionate dialogue—part warning, part call-to-arms—from one of America's most respected voices. De Niro urges everyone, especially those with means, to refuse intimidation, speak out, and mobilize peacefully. For De Niro, the fight for democracy is not just political, it's deeply personal and a test of the nation's collective character. The time, he insists, is now: “Resist, resist, resist, resist. That's the only way.”