Robert De Niro knows good acting, but he wasn’t a huge fan of Alabama Sen. Katie Britt’s rebuttal to President Joe Biden’s State of the Union speech, at least when Bill Maher asked for his critique.

The “Goodfellas” and “Raging Bull” star appeared on HBO’s “Real Time with Bill Maher” Friday night, as he discussed his film career and shared opinions on various political stories including the upcoming 2024 presidential election between incumbent Biden and presumptive GOP nominee and former President Donald Trump.

Viewers took to social media to mostly roast Britt’s performance, which some likened to “dinner theater” due to her dramatic delivery of the rebuttal. So naturally, when one has one of the greatest actors in film history, why not ask for his thoughts on the performance?

Maher introduced De Niro as the greatest actor of his generation, now nominated for best supporting actor Academy Award for his work in Martin Scorsese’s “Killers of the Flower Moon,” his 10th nomination overall.

The “Real Time” host and standup comic asked if De Niro had seen Britt’s rebuttal. “As the greatest actor, could you critique her acting technique a little?” Maher said. “Because I thought it might have been a little over the top.”

“I saw it this morning, and I don’t understand why they would even have someone like her do it,” De Niro said. “It was so, uh, lame.”

“Yeah, that’s a good word for it,” Maher said.

Britt, 42, was the first Alabamian to deliver the response to the State of the Union, broadcasting her from her kitchen in Alabama into homes across the nation. “One thing was clear: President Biden just doesn’t get it. He’s out of touch,” she said. “Under his Administration, families are worse off. Our communities are less safe, and our country is less secure.”

Prior to interviewing De Niro, Maher made a few cracks about Britt’s speech during his monologue, even comparing her to Georgia Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Green and Colorado Congresswoman Lauren Boebert.

“I just want to remind you Daylight Savings Time starts this Sunday, so it will be an hour later when the cuckoo bird flies out of her head,” Maher said after showing clips of Britt’s speech.

Jimmy Fallon also drew some laughs at Britt’s expense during his Friday night monologue on “The Tonight Show.”

“Even producers of Hallmark movies were saying ‘it’s a bit much … a tiny bit much,’” said Fallon, who joked she got rave reviews from her speaking coach, William Shatner.

The March 8, 2024, episode of “Real Time with Bill Maher” is now streaming on Max.