When asked to describe the state of the United States “in movie terms,” two-time Oscar winning actor Robert De Niro said the country was once “an inspiring uplifting drama,” but now has turned into “a tragic dumbass comedy.”
De Niro made the bleak comment during a commencement address at Brown University on Sunday, the Associated Press reports. The actor also urged the students present to “work to stop the insanity” and strive to make the world a better place.
This is not the first time De Niro has made his feelings about President Donald Trump’s administration clear. In January, he suggested that calls to oppose the president’s inaugural events were “warranted.”
“I think that whatever people do they should do it fully because there’s a lot of crazy stuff happening now — it’s just crazy,” he told Today show anchor Matt Lauer. “And maybe it’s an act and we’ll see once [Trump’s] in, but you know, everybody has to be on guard,” he added.
De Niro also called Trump “a bulls–t artist… who doesn’t know what he’s talking about,” in an October interview for the #VoteYourFuture campaign.
More Must-Reads from TIME
- Caitlin Clark Is TIME's 2024 Athlete of the Year
- Where Trump 2.0 Will Differ From 1.0
- Is Intermittent Fasting Good or Bad for You?
- The 100 Must-Read Books of 2024
- Column: If Optimism Feels Ridiculous Now, Try Hope
- The Future of Climate Action Is Trade Policy
- FX’s Say Nothing Is the Must-Watch Political Thriller of 2024
- Merle Bombardieri Is Helping People Make the Baby Decision
Write to Kate Samuelson at kate.samuelson@time.com