THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Donald Trump, the billionaire property mogul who is considering running for US president, has picked a fight with Robert De Niro after the Oscar-winning star compared him to a "car salesman."
Mr Trump, who also hosts the US version of "The Apprentice," responded in typically robust fashion, suggesting that the tough guy actor was "not the brightest bulb on the planet" and "not Albert Einstein."
The public feud began after Mr Trump recently questioned where President Barack Obama was born, allying himself to the so-called "birther" movement which is demanding to see the president's original birth certificate.
Mr Obama was born in the state of Hawaii in 1961. Conspiracy theorists allege that he was actually born in Kenya, which would make him ineligible to serve as president.
De Niro, 67, the star of "Raging Bull" and "Goodfellas," and a Democrat supporter, was asked about the issue during a public interview at the Tribeca Film Festival in New York.
He said: "I won't mention names, but certain people in the news the last couple weeks, just, what are they doing? It's crazy. They're making statements about people that they don't even back up. Go get the facts before you start saying things about people."
The actor, who confirmed he was talking about Mr Trump, added: "It's like a big hustle. It's like being a car salesman. Don't go out there and say things unless you can back them up. How dare you? That's awful to do.
"To just go out and speak and say these terrible things? Unless you just want to get over and get the job. It's crazy." » | Nick Allen, Los Angeles | Tuesday, April 26, 2011
