Robert De Niro sparked fresh rumors on Thursday that he could soon join the growing wave of stars fleeing America for a new home abroad — as political tensions rise under Donald Trump.
The so-called ‘Donald Dash’ has already seen Ellen DeGeneres and wife Portia de Rossi, designer Tom Ford, and power couple Ryan Gosling and Eva Mendes make the move to the UK.
Actress America Ferrera is also rumored to have relocated there, while Eva Longoria and her family have quietly settled in Spain.
Rosie O’Donnell confirmed she’s now living in Ireland, admitting, ‘It’s been heartbreaking to see what’s happening politically and hard for me personally as well.’
Now, De Niro, a staunch Trump critic who currently resides in New York City, has fans wondering if he’s preparing to cross the pond for good after he looked thrilled accepting Rome’s top honor, the Lupa Capitolina, from Mayor Roberto Gualtieri.
Daily Mail has not received a reply to its request for comment from reps for De Niro.
The ceremony comes nearly 20 years after De Niro was at the center of a citizenship controversy, when an Italian-American group tried to block Italy’s plan to honor him, claiming he’d spent his career portraying ‘unflattering and untrue stereotypes’ of Italian-Americans.
Robert De Niro, who currently resides in New York City, has fans wondering if he’s preparing to cross the pond for good after he looked thrilled accepting Rome’s top honor, the Lupa Capitolina, from Mayor Roberto Gualtieri on Thursday
The award is given for achievements related to cultural, civic, or humanitarian work
In August 2004, the Order of the Sons of Italy in America (OSIA) — based in Washington, D.C. — publicly condemned the plan, accusing the Oscar winner of having ‘made a career of playing gangsters of Italian descent,’ per The Guardian.
‘He has done nothing to promote Italian culture in the United States. Instead, the OSIA and its members hold him and his movies responsible for considerably damaging the collective reputations of both Italians and Italian-Americans,” the group said in a statement.
De Niro’s career has long been defined by his portrayals of Italian-Americans and gangster figures, roles that made him an iconic figure in Hollywood.
From the ruthless mobster in The Godfather: Part II to the cunning criminal in Goodfellas, his performances often leaned into the very stereotypes the group criticized.
Even in lighter fare, such as the animated Shark Tale, he brought his signature gangster persona to the character, reinforcing his on-screen association with Italian mob figures.
OSIA was particularly angered by De Niro’s portrayal of a godfather-like figure in Steven Spielberg’s animated film Shark Tale.
OSIA even demanded that DreamWorks edit what it called the film’s ‘most offensive aspects’ at the time.
DreamWorks pushed back, saying the outrage was misplaced.
De Niro shook hands with Mayor Gualtieri while accepting the miniature statue of the Capitoline Wolf — the she-wolf that nurtured Rome’s mythical founders, Romulus and Remus
Surrounded by cheering officials, the 81-year-old looked right at home in Rome — and perhaps, as many fans suspect, ready to make Italy his own permanent stage
Spokesman Andy Spahn told reporters, ‘This organization has not even seen the film, so we are somewhat perplexed.
‘It’s an animated movie about colourful fish. I can’t see how that can offend anyone.’
At the time, OSIA warned that giving De Niro such an honor would insult millions of Italian-Americans who viewed his filmography as a ‘distorted and unbalanced portrayal’ of their heritage. per the outlet.
Despite the backlash in the U.S., many Italians supported the Taxi Driver star’s recognition.
In Ferrazzano — the tiny village De Niro’s great-grandparents left in the 19th century — locals have long celebrated him as one of their own.
The Guardian reported in 2004 that the village’s 3,000 residents hosted an annual festival devoted entirely to his films, gathering each August to honor his work.
De Niro, born in New York in 1943, does not qualify for an Italian passport because neither his parents nor grandparents were born in Italy.
He has never visited the village himself, according to the outlet.
The ceremony comes nearly 20 years after De Niro was at the center of a citizenship controversy, when an Italian-American group tried to block Italy’s plan to honor him, claiming he’d spent his career portraying ‘unflattering and untrue stereotypes’ of Italian-Americans; (pictured in 1990’s Goodfellas)
In August 2004, the Order of the Sons of Italy in America (OSIA) — based in Washington, D.C. — publicly condemned the plan, accusing the Oscar winner of having ‘made a career of playing gangsters of Italian descent,’ (pictured 1974’s Godfather II)
De Niro’s career has long been defined by his portrayals of Italian-Americans and gangster figures, roles that made him an iconic figure in Hollywood; (pictured in 2025’s The Alto Knights)
OSIA was particularly angered by De Niro’s portrayal of a godfather-like figure in Steven Spielberg’s 2004 animated film Shark Tale
Still, locals remained fiercely proud of their connection to him, describing the actor as a symbol of their immigrant success story, according to the outlet.
That deep admiration was on display again this week as De Niro smiled broadly, shaking hands with Mayor Gualtieri while accepting the miniature statue of the Capitoline Wolf — the she-wolf that nurtured Rome’s mythical founders, Romulus and Remus.
The award is given for achievements related to cultural, civic, or humanitarian work.
Surrounded by cheering officials, the 81-year-old looked right at home in Rome — and perhaps, as many fans suspect, ready to make Italy his own permanent stage.
