Robert De Niro’s latest character in Killers Of The Flower Moon has drawn comparisons to former US President Donald Trump, but the actor has made it clear that his character is not as “stupid” as Trump.

De Niro plays William Hale in the upcoming Martin Scorsese film, which is based on a non-fiction book of the same name by David Grann. Hale is a wealthy rancher and businessman who becomes embroiled in a string of murders of wealthy Osage people in Oklahoma in the early 20th century.

In a recent interview with Yahoo Entertainment, De Niro spoke about his character in the film and how it relates to Trump, whom he has criticized in the past.

“There are a lot of things [Hale] does that are not too dissimilar to what Trump did in a different way,” De Niro said. “But that guy, Trump, is stupid. He’s a wannabe gangster.”

De Niro went on to describe Hale as a “complicated person” who had a lot of power and influence in his community during that time period.

“He was somebody who was very powerful and people were afraid of him,” De Niro said. “He was a rancher and he had his own oil wells, he was very wealthy. There’s a lot of complications to him.”

The actor also spoke about working with Scorsese again, calling the filmmaker “a genius” and saying that he has “great respect” for him.

“I’m very lucky to have had the opportunities I’ve had with him,” De Niro said.

Killers Of The Flower Moon, which also stars Leonardo DiCaprio and Jesse Plemons, does not have a release date yet. The film has been in the works for several years and has faced multiple delays due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

In addition to his work on the film, De Niro has been busy with other projects in recent years. He has starred in several films, including Netflix’s The Irishman, and has been active in politics, speaking out against Trump and endorsing Democrats in various elections.

The actor has also faced personal and legal challenges, including a divorce from his wife of more than 20 years and a lawsuit against him by a former assistant who accused him of sexually harassing her.

Despite these challenges, De Niro remains one of the most respected and acclaimed actors in Hollywood, with a career spanning more than five decades. He has received numerous awards for his work, including two Academy Awards, and has been praised for his ability to bring complex and nuanced characters to life on screen.