Entertainment Desk
Last Updated: 12 January 2026, 11:54 AM IST
The Golden Globes ceremony also witnessed visible protest against US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), after several celebrities wore anti-ICE pins on the red carpet and inside the ballroom.
US actor Robert De Niro | Photo: AFP
Los Angeles: Hollywood icon Robert De Niro ignited a political moment at the Golden Globes 2026, openly attacking US President Donald Trump during his on-stage appearance.
De Niro shouted “Fk Trump”**, drawing loud applause from the audience and instantly turning the awards ceremony into a flashpoint of political commentary.
His outburst came amid heightened geopolitical tensions following recent US intervention in Venezuela and growing domestic outrage over controversial immigration enforcement actions.
The Golden Globes ceremony also witnessed a visible protest against US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), after several celebrities wore anti-ICE pins on the red carpet and inside the ballroom. The move followed the fatal shooting of Renee Good, who was killed in her car by an ICE officer this week in Minneapolis.
The black-and-white pins carried slogans such as “BE GOOD” and “ICE OUT”, injecting a strong political statement into an awards show that had remained largely apolitical last year.
Actors Mark Ruffalo, Wanda Sykes and Natasha Lyonne wore the pins on the red carpet, while Jean Smart and Ariana Grande donned them inside the ceremony. Smart kept the pin on her dress while accepting the award for Best Performance by a Female Actor in a Musical or Comedy Series.
The protest movement follows nationwide demonstrations triggered by Good’s killing, as well as a separate incident in Portland where Border Patrol agents wounded two people. Minneapolis has since become the centre of large-scale protests, where ICE is currently conducting its biggest immigration enforcement operation to date.
“We need every part of civil society, society to speak up,” said Nelini Stamp of Working Families Power, one of the organisers behind the anti-ICE pins. “We need our artists. We need our entertainers. We need the folks who reflect society.”
US lawmakers have vowed an assertive response, while the FBI has launched an investigation into Good’s death. The Trump administration has defended the ICE officer involved, stating he acted in self-defence and believed Good was about to hit him with her car.
The protests have also been fuelled by another recent incident, the killing of 43-year-old Keith Porter in Los Angeles by an off-duty ICE officer last week, which sparked fresh demonstrations demanding accountability.
The idea for the “ICE OUT” pins originated from a late-night conversation between Stamp and Jess Morales Rocketto, executive director of Latino advocacy group Maremoto.
Recognising the influence of cultural platforms, the organisers moved quickly to enlist celebrities.
“There is a longstanding tradition of people who create art taking a stand for justice in moments,” Stamp said. “We’re going to continue that tradition.”
Morales Rocketto added that supporters distributed the pins across pre-event gatherings leading up to the ceremony.
“They put it in their purse and they’re like, ‘Hey would you wear this?’ It’s so grassroots,” she said.
The organisers confirmed the campaign will continue throughout the awards season to keep public attention on those killed in ICE-related shootings — beginning with Renee Good.
Published: 12 Jan 2026, 11:54 am IST
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