All the best villains have some moral core they use to justify their own actions, even if they’re fundamentally destructive and they’re using twisted rationalizations for their own evil. That’s a big part of what gives an actor something to build a performance around.
De Niro’s most famous villain was probably the young Vito Corleone in The Godfather Part II. Corleone was a violent, vicious gangster, but he also had plenty of “positive” and relatable traits like a deep love for his family, a strong work ethic and a sense of justice that went deeper than mere vengeance and self-gratification. He also had patience and restraint. Trump has none of those qualities.
