De Niro Goes Jake LaMotta on Schwarzenegger at Jewish Charity Event
Image by Getty Images
By Dan Friedman November 5, 2016
Robert de Niro refused to be photographed with Arnold Schwarzenegger over political differences at the VIP cocktail reception for the annual Friends of the Israel Defense Forces Western Regional Gala on November 3.
After some photos had already been taken, de Niro took offence. “If you’re supporting Trump, I want nothing to do with you,” he said, and walked away from the actor-turned-politician. (The photograph accompanying this article comes from the Tribeca Film Festival in 2015.)
Malina Saval in Variety described de Niro’s actions as “channeling his inner Jake LaMotta” — referring to his combative boxing character from “Raging Bull” — as the Italian-American actor refused to even let the former Republican governor of California explain his position.
In a tweet on October 8, Schwarzenegger had made it clear that he would not be voting for Trump, but has not said who he will be voting for.
As proud as I am to label myself a Republican, there is one label that I hold above all else – American. My full statement: pic.twitter.com/biRvY8S3aZ
— Arnold (@Schwarzenegger) October 8, 2016
Although the event is non-partisan, it was chaired by one of Hillary Clinton’s most important supporters, FIDF national board member Haim Saban and his wife, Cheryl.
It’s our birthday and we’re still celebrating!
We hope you appreciated this article. Before you go, we’d like to ask you to please support the Forward’s independent Jewish news.
This week we celebrate 129 years of the Forward. We’re proud of our origins as a Yiddish print publication serving Jewish immigrants. And we’re just as proud of what we’ve become today: A trusted source of Jewish news and opinion, available digitally to anyone in the world without paywalls or subscriptions.
We’ve helped five generations of American Jews make sense of the news and the world around them — and we aren’t slowing down any time soon.
As a nonprofit newsroom, reader donations make it possible for us to do this work. Support independent, agenda-free Jewish journalism and our board will match your gift in honor of our birthday!
Support our mission to tell the Jewish story fully and fairly.
