The Oscar-winning actor, 80, was set to be handed the group's Leadership Foundation's Service to America Award next week.

But the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) has rescinded the award after De Niro hit out at Donald Trump in a press conference in support of Joe Biden outside Manhattan Criminal Court on Tuesday. 

'I owe this city a lot. And that's why it's so weird that Donald Trump is just across the street because he doesn't belong in my city,' he told reporters. 

The NAB which describes itself as 'proudly bipartisan' said De Niro would no longer be attending their event. 

'This event is proudly bipartisan, uniting those from across the political spectrum to celebrate the impactful work of local broadcasters and our partners,' an NAB spokesman told The Hill.

'While we strongly support the right of every American to exercise free speech and participate in civic engagement, it is clear that Mr. De Niro's recent high-profile activities will create a distraction from the philanthropic work that we were hoping to recognize.

'To maintain the focus on service of the award winners, Mr. De Niro will no longer be attending the event.' 

It comes days after De Niro said he joined the Biden campaign because it was the only way to 'preserve our freedoms'.

'I don't mean to scare you. No, wait, maybe I do mean to scare you,' he told reporters. 

'If Trump returns to the White House, you can kiss these freedoms goodbye that we all take for granted.'

The actor cast himself as the true New Yorker and mocked Trump's history of sometimes-unsuccessful business ventures and self-promotion, saying Trump was looking to 'destroy' the city.