Robert De Niro and Mark Ruffalo appeared together in New York City over the weekend at a rally aimed at mobilizing voters ahead of the midterms, according to a report from Breitbart News. The event, billed as the “Hands Off Our Vote” rally, was organized by the progressive groups Indivisible and Hands Off NYC.
Breitbart, which covered the event, described De Niro as “unhinged” and said he “spewed false claims” about what the Trump administration is doing with voter rolls across the country. The site also said De Niro led the crowd in a repeated profane refrain: “Keep your fucking hands off our vote!”
The Target of De Niro’s Remarks
The two-time Oscar winner, whom Breitbart referred to as the “Focker-in-Law star” in a nod to his role in the Meet the Parents franchise, directed his anger at President Donald Trump, calling him a “coward” and a “fucking piece of shit.” De Niro asked the crowd what they tell Trump “when that coward… tries to take our voice and power away,” then delivered the refrain that became the event’s signature chant.
“Now with your commitment and support… we’re gonna send him away!” De Niro said, according to Breitbart. He went on to lead a call-and-response with the crowd, asking them to “Take back the House! Yes! Take back the Senate! Yes! Take back the power! Yes! Take back our country! Yes!”
The event fits a pattern for De Niro, who has been one of the entertainment industry’s most vocal critics of Trump for years and has previously appeared at anti-Trump rallies and protests in New York. Ruffalo, a longtime progressive activist, has also been a fixture at left-leaning political events.
What the Voter Roll Efforts Actually Do
Breitbart’s report took issue with De Niro’s characterization of the administration’s voter roll efforts, stating that the Trump administration “is not taking any legal voters’ vote away” through its cleanup initiatives.
According to the outlet, those efforts have at least two major goals. The first is to eliminate ineligible voters — including people who have died or who have moved out of state and are therefore no longer eligible to vote in the state where they are registered. The second, which Breitbart called more important, is to remove illegal voters and noncitizens from the rolls.
The outlet reported that the U.S. Department of Justice has requested voter roll data from states in order to cross-check those rolls for noncitizens. In July, Breitbart noted, the White House alleged that more than a quarter of a million foreigners illegally voted in recent elections, and the DOJ is looking to stop that activity.
Breitbart also cited the recent arrest of 16 migrants who allegedly voted illegally in U.S. elections, saying they used false information and posed as actual citizens to gain access to the ballot box.
It’s worth noting that much of the source material’s framing reflects the outlet’s perspective. Breitbart described De Niro and Ruffalo as “radical left-wing” and “unhinged,” characterizations that the actors and their supporters would dispute. At the same time, the underlying dispute over voter roll maintenance is a genuinely contested policy area, with supporters of the administration’s efforts arguing they protect election integrity and critics arguing they risk disenfranchising eligible voters.
A Familiar Pattern of Celebrity Activism
De Niro’s appearance is part of a broader push by progressive groups and celebrities to energize voters before the midterm elections. Indivisible, one of the groups behind the event, has been a prominent organizer of anti-Trump activism since the president’s first term. The “Hands Off” branding has been used for a series of rallies across the country this year.
The choice of De Niro as a headliner is a familiar one for Democratic-leaning events. He has been perhaps the most consistent A-list voice in anti-Trump cultural politics, from his viral Tony Awards moment in 2018 to his repeated on-camera denunciations of the president. Ruffalo, likewise, has been active on progressive causes for years, particularly around environmental issues and voting rights.
Whether celebrity rallies move actual votes is a question that has long divided political strategists. Supporters argue they draw media attention and can motivate low-propensity voters; skeptics note that the people who attend such events are often already committed. What is clear is that the “Hands Off Our Vote” rally generated the kind of dramatic, quotable moment that organizers hope will travel well online.
For De Niro, the event was another entry in a political second act that has, at times, overshadowed his film work. His upcoming slate includes the comedy The Focker-in-Law, which Breitbart referenced in its headline about the rally.
The rally’s actual impact on turnout in New York, a state that is not competitive at the presidential level but features several contested House districts, won’t be known until ballots are counted.
Source: www.breitbart.com — https://www.breitbart.com/entertainment/2026/10/05/robert-de-niro-plays-the-tds-hits-at-left-wing-gotv-event-keep-your-fking-hands-off-our-vote/