This year, the left was more deliberate in counterprogramming President Trump’s State of the Union address. Over 70 Democrat Members of Congress chose not to attend, going instead to one of several alternate events where attendees would gather and spit bile about how much America sucks, in their opinion. One of those events was headlined by Academy Award-winning actor Robert De Niro. Watch as De Niro asserts that America is hard to love these days: Robert De Niro, speaking at the Resistance™ counterprogramming event, admitting he chokes on expressions of love for America. "I choke on that phrase, “we all love our country.” Because our country isn't so lovable right now. In the current climate, declaring love for our… pic.twitter.com/Df285ZOycx — Jorge Bonilla (@BonillaJL) February 25, 2026 ROBERT DE NIRO: The letter also included a statement about how our First Amendment rights transcend politics, other- other beliefs. That part began: “regardless of our political affiliation or whether we engage in politics or not, we all love our country”. I choke on that phrase, “we all love our country.” Because our country isn't so lovable right now. In the current climate, declaring love for our country is like an abused spouse professing love for their abuser. I've never thought of citizenship as being an act of love. I've tried to be a good citizen. I pay my taxes, vote, obey the law, recycle, stay within the speed limit. Most of the time, not always. In return, I'm grateful for the opportunities and freedoms my family, my fellow citizens, my immigrant ancestors have enjoyed. But my heart is broken as I see them being taken away, both the freedoms and increasingly my fellow citizens.  I'm not going anywhere. This is my house, my home. But I have to tell you, I'm not too crazy about living in this dysfunctional relationship. Our country, as President Lincoln reminded us, is meant to be a government of the people by the people and for the people. The people. Tragically, we're now in a country of by and for a handful of dishonest, greedy, and cruel authoritarians. So- love our country?  Let me ask you: Can you love a country where our neighbors are shot down in the streets by masked government thugs? Can you love a country that denies healthcare for tens of millions of our fellow citizens? Can you love a country that ends contributions to sick and starving people around the world causing hundreds of thousands of preventable deaths, many of them innocent children? Can you love a country that trashes our economy to give tax break- tax breaks to its billionaire cronies? Can you love a country that denies science and sacrifices the climate, the very air our children breathe? Can you love a country that pardons violent criminals and protects pedophiles? I could go on and on and on and on.  The bottom line is that I feel betrayed by my country. It doesn't have to be perfect, but it does need to return to the values that gave us our strength and humanity. There is an interesting juxtaposition here. On the one hand, you had multiple expressions of patriotism, buoyed by celebration of USA Hockey sweeping Olympic gold. There was honor given to our brave heroes, and an elevation of the American citizen.  On the other, you had a bitter expression of a collective nationalism that is conditioned solely upon the right people being in power. One is reminded of Michelle Obama finally being proud of America once her husband secured his party’s presidential nomination. This grotesque expression of conditional love for America was uttered at an event co-sponsored by a Soros-funded fake news outlet. As our own Joseph Vasquez pointed out:  In one of the most ironic plot twists, DEFIANCE listed fake news outfit Courier Newsroom as one of the event co-hosts, which became notorious for spreading mass amounts of false information in past elections to manipulate voters. Courier Newsroom has been fueled with at least $20 million between 2021 and 2023 alone by Soros, emphasizing the leftist billionaire’s vested interest in the group’s antics.  This event served little purpose other than to platform performative resistance for its own sake, and De Niro’s remarks fit right in. We say these things with all respect for his right to speak freely, which is something to be cherished in America, which we love all the time. Click “expand” to view the full transcript of Robert De Niro’s speech as delivered at the Defiance “State of the Swamp” event on Tuesday, February 24th, 2026: ROBERT De NIRO: Thank you, everybody. Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, Miles. 5 months ago- 5 months ago, the ACLU asked me to sign a letter supporting Jimmy Kimmel when he was taken off the air by the Trump administration's censorship and ABC’s complicity. The letter began: We, the people must never accept government threats to our freedom of speech. Efforts by leaders to pressure artists, journalists, and companies with retaliation for their speech, strike at the heart of what it means to live in a free country. 100%. I'm passionate about free speech and a huge supporter of the ACLU.  So along with nearly 500 other actors, directors, musicians and more than 50,000 ACLU supporters, of course I signed the letter. The letter also included a statement about how our First Amendment rights transcend politics, other- other beliefs. That part began: “regardless of our political affiliation or whether we engage in politics or not, we all love our country”. I choke on that phrase, “we all love our country.” Because our country isn't so lovable right now. In the current climate, declaring love for our country is like an abused spouse professing love for their abuser. I've never thought of citizenship as being an act of love. I've tried to be a good citizen. I pay my taxes, vote, obey the law, recycle, stay within the speed limit. Most of the time, not always. In return, I'm grateful for the opportunities and freedoms my family, my fellow citizens, my immigrant ancestors have enjoyed. But my heart is broken as I see them being taken away, both the freedoms and increasingly my fellow citizens.  I'm not going anywhere. This is my house, my home. But I have to tell you, I'm not too crazy about living in this dysfunctional relationship. Our country, as President Lincoln reminded us, is meant to be a government of the people by the people and for the people. The people. Tragically, we're now in a country of by and for a handful of dishonest, greedy, and cruel authoritarians. So- love our country?  Let me ask you: Can you love a country where our neighbors are shot down in the streets by masked government thugs? Can you love a country that denies healthcare for tens of millions of our fellow citizens? Can you love a country that ends contributions to sick and starving people around the world causing hundreds of thousands of preventable deaths, many of them innocent children? Can you love a country that trashes our economy to give tax break- tax breaks to its billionaire cronies? Can you love a country that denies science and sacrifices the climate, the very air our children breathe? Can you love a country that pardons violent criminals and protects pedophiles? I could go on and on and on and on.  The bottom line is that I feel betrayed by my country. It doesn't have to be perfect, but it does need to return to the values that gave us our strength and humanity. And turn its back on the daily atrocities of the Trump regime and their enablers. Despite the theme tonight, I didn't come here to talk about the State of the Union. That's too depressing. And, and right now I'm more concerned about what the State of the Union will be in November. Because a failing, flailing, and desperate Donald Trump is even- even more dangerous than the tyrant we've already experienced. There is no doubt in my mind, and I'm sure in most of our mind-. that he will use every resource and power in his command to stop from losing power in the midterm elections. I won't list the ways because we don't know all the ways he'll try to steal the election. Remember that this guy tried to overthrow the government by violently attacking the Capitol on January 6th. Who saw that coming? And that was just a rehearsal for what's likely to come. Who's going to stop him? Yes! Who is going to stop him? We the People because we are the only ones who can stop him. Like you, I'm filled with anger and outrage. but I'm saved from total despair by rays of hope. and I am very careful these days about using the word hope because I've seen so many of our hopes for our country destroyed. but there's no reason to think we're not up to the challenge. We have a solid first line of defense with organizations like Defiance.org. We have judges whose courtrooms have been corrupted haven't been corrupted. haven't been corrupted. And then most importantly, there's us the people We saw what can be accomplished in the example of the courageous people of Minneapolis. in the face of deadly attacks by Trump's private army. They stood up to threats and violence and literally ran their asses out of the- out of town. Mayor Frey, congratulations to you and your people. Inspiring and I'm also inspired by the No King' demonstrations. Millions of people all over the country gathered together to nonviolently demand democracy. The next rally is March 28th. If you've ever loved your country, this is a time to show it. This is our wake-up call. We don't know everything this authoritarian president and the stooges have in mind, but we know something is coming. and if you want our leaders to be accountable if you're devoted to the Constitution and the rule of law. If you want the United States of America to be worthy of your love, be ready to take this- to the streets together, and we will take our country back. Thank you.