NEWS: Robert De Niro said Karoline Leavitt is not qualified to be a Role Model for women… Thoughts?

In a statement that has ignited both applause and outrage across political and cultural lines, legendary actor Robert De Niro recently said that Karoline Leavitt, former Trump campaign spokesperson and rising conservative media figure, is “not qualified to be a role model for women.”

The comment came during a roundtable discussion at a film and culture summit in New York, where De Niro—never shy about expressing his political views—was asked about the growing influence of right-wing female commentators.

His response was blunt: “If Karoline Leavitt is the kind of role model young women are supposed to look up to, we’ve got a serious problem. She doesn’t represent empowerment. She represents regression, conformity, and political extremism.”

As expected, De Niro’s remark quickly went viral. Progressives praised the actor for “speaking truth to power,” while conservatives condemned the comment as elitist, sexist, and out of touch. Leavitt herself responded on X (formerly Twitter), calling De Niro “a washed-up Hollywood liberal clinging to the past,” and adding, “I don’t need Robert De Niro’s approval to be a strong woman. I have the support of millions of Americans who still believe in faith, family, and freedom.”

So who’s right? Is De Niro making a legitimate critique of political messaging and the standards of female leadership? Or is he dismissing a powerful woman simply because he disagrees with her ideology?

Let’s unpack it.

First, it’s worth noting that Karoline Leavitt is, by all accounts, an impressive figure in conservative politics. At just 24 years old, she served as Assistant Press Secretary in the Trump White House and later ran for Congress

She’s articulate, media-savvy, and unafraid to wade into controversy. To many young conservative women, she represents a new generation of bold female voices who are unapologetically right-wing. In a political landscape often dominated by liberal narratives on gender and empowerment, Leavitt is a symbol of resistance—a woman who refuses to conform to progressive ideals of what a strong woman should be.

But for critics like De Niro, that’s precisely the problem. To them, Leavitt doesn’t break barriers; she reinforces them. Her rhetoric often embraces traditional gender roles, opposes abortion rights, and defends policies seen by many as discriminatory or regressive.

De Niro and others argue that calling someone like Leavitt a “role model” sends a message that it’s acceptable for women to rise to power while promoting values that may harm other women—particularly those in marginalized communities.

From this view, being a role model isn’t just about confidence or charisma—it’s about the consequences of the ideas you promote. A woman who gains influence by standing against equal pay legislation or LGBTQ+ protections, for example, may be seen by progressives as using her platform to reinforce systemic inequality, not dismantle it. In this sense, De Niro’s comment is not just personal—it’s philosophical.

On the other hand, there’s a fair critique to be made of De Niro’s tone. By saying Leavitt is “not qualified to be a role model,” he risks implying that conservative women, by default, cannot serve as examples of leadership. That’s a slippery and dangerous slope. Role models don’t have to come from one political tribe.

They don’t even have to be universally liked. What matters is authenticity, integrity, and impact. For many young women—especially those raised in traditional, faith-based households—Leavitt represents a kind of success they aspire to. Whether one agrees with her politics or not, it’s hard to argue that she hasn’t carved out a significant space in an arena often dominated by older male voices.

Perhaps the deeper issue here is that “role model” is a subjective title. For some, it means standing up for progressive change. For others, it means staying rooted in conservative principles.

The two can’t always coexist, and that’s okay. What’s not okay is dismissing someone’s influence simply because it doesn’t align with your worldview.

Robert De Niro’s statement struck a chord because it reflects the broader cultural divide in America today—one where ideology often overrides merit, and where support or condemnation of public figures is almost entirely tribal.

But if we genuinely believe in diversity—in thought, background, experience—then we must accept that role models will come in many forms. Karoline Leavitt may not be Robert De Niro’s idea of a role model, but she is undoubtedly a role model to someone. And in a democracy, that has to be enough.