Robert De Niro was one of numerous Donald Trump critics that was targeted with a suspicious mail package this week. On Oct. 25, just one day after the explosive device was found at the actor and director’s office in New York, De Niro issued a written statement thanking the authorities and urging people to vote.
“I thank God no one’s been hurt, and I thank the brave and resourceful security and law enforcement people for protecting us,” De Niro said. “There’s something more powerful than bombs, and that’s your vote. People MUST vote!”
The upcoming Nov. 6 US midterm elections are widely considered to be a critical moment, not only for shaping Trump’s presidency, but also for the future of the US political landscape as a whole. There have been some predictions that voter turnout for the midterm elections could hit a 50-year record.
Celebrities have increasingly been encouraging people to vote, but De Niro’s statement comes amidst a particularly fraught time when bomb threats are being sent to Trump critics one after another. (De Niro has been outspoken on his feelings about the president.)
On the same day De Niro issued his call to vote, several more suspicious packages were discovered. One suspect, a Florida man in his 50s, has been arrested but details are still unfolding.