The heckler made the controversial claim after De Niro made an appearance in New York to speak outside the Manhattan courtroom where former president Donald Trump is currently on trial.

De Niro used his platform to warn people against voting for Trump in the upcoming presidential election, claiming he wants to destroy not only the city, but the country.

“Eventually he can destroy the world,” he said.

De Niro was joined at the event by two officers who defended the Capitol during the insurrection on January 6, 2021, but there were also a number of protestors at the event showing their support for Trump.

It was these members of the crowd who criticized De Niro as he made his way back to his car, when they called out to describe him as a ‘wannabe and a paid sell-out.

A ‘nobody’ and a little punk’ were among the other names used by hecklers, while others shouted to De Niro that his ‘movies suck.

The actor initially kept a cool head as he responded to the protestors, saying: “You’re not going to intimidate. That’s what Trump does…. We are going to fight back. We’re trying to be gentlemen in this world, the Democrats. You are gangsters. You are gangsters!”

The actor had a blunt response to the hecklers. (Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images)

However, after another heckler added that De Niro was ‘washed up’, he hit back with a more brutal response.

“F**k you,” he yelled, before climbing into his car.

The altercation took place as Trump’s campaign mocked Joe Biden’s side for enlisting De Niro ahead of the election in November.

Karoline Leavitt, a spokesperson on Trump’s side, described De Niro as an elitist out-of-touch Hollywood actor who has no idea the real problems that people in this city and across this country are facing.

Jason Miller, a senior adviser on Trump’s campaign, added: “The best that Biden can do is roll out a washed-up actor.”

De Niro warned Americans that Trump would never leave if he successfully won the vote to go back into the White House.