Robert de Niro is "depressed" that Donald Trump won the presidential election and gave his blessing to the thousands of people protesting the real estate tycoon in cities across the U.S.

The 73-year-old actor, who had been an outspoken critic of Trump during the campaign, talked about the election on the red carpet at the world premiere of his new film "The Comedian" in Los Angeles.

"How am I doing? I'm very depressed," he told reporters, according to Agence France-Presse this weekend. "We have to just wait and see how things go and keep our eyes ever vigilant on the new government," he added.

Answering a question about whether the protests are the proper course of action in response to the election result, de Niro said, "Yes, absolutely. Things aren't being done right."

De Niro also said this week that the election result made him "feel like I did after 9/11," according to the Hollywood Reporter.

Earlier in the year, the "Raging Bull" actor appeared in a video calling Republican nominee Donald Trump "blatantly stupid" and a "national disaster."

In a video provided to Fox News, which was recorded but not used as part of the #VoteYourFuture campaign, de Niro, who has verbally attacked Trump in the past, said he would like to "punch [Trump] in the face."

His comments sparked a Twitter tirade from fellow Hollywood actor and Trump supporter Jon Voight, who said he was "ashamed" of de Niro's "foul words."