Mark Ruffalo Tells Trump “I’m Gonna Hulk Out” at Voting Rights Event in New York

With the midterm elections just weeks away, political groups are leaning on celebrity voices to get voters energized. Hollywood stars have long taken part in get-out-the-vote efforts, and this year’s push is no exception.

One of the biggest events so far was the Hands Off Our Vote livestream in New York City on Sunday night, an election-protection campaign organized by Indivisible. The lineup included Black Voters Matter’s LaTosha Brown, Indivisible co-founder Ezra Levin, and actors Robert De Niro and Mark Ruffalo, with the organizers announcing an upcoming day of action on October 17.

The midterms are set for November 3, and Variety noted that they could give Democrats the chance to retake control of Congress and curb President Trump’s agenda. Against that backdrop, the speeches were pointed, and Ruffalo’s drew the most attention.

Ruffalo called the election a big deal and urged voters to join Free Speech for People in challenging insecure voting systems so that results are accurate and safe from interference. He then turned to Trump, calling for him to be voted out of office, and led the crowd in chants of “hands off” before saying that Republicans will try to stop voters from taking the country back.

“They’re going to try and stop us from taking our country back, and we’re not going to let ’em. Trump, we’re not letting you! Hands off our f—ing vote!”

An audience member shouted encouragement to the Hulk, and Ruffalo laughed and said, per Variety, “I’m gonna Hulk out.” He followed with a nod to Bruce Banner’s famous warning about not liking him when he’s angry.

He then added that people thought he was out for the count, but he’s still here and still playing the Hulk. The line drew cheers, and he ended by urging the crowd not to be afraid or intimidated and to get out and vote.

The Hill reported that Ruffalo was blasting Trump’s attempts to restrict mail-in voting. Trump has long alleged that mail-in voting is inherently fraudulent, and one of his top legislative priorities is the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act, which would require proof of citizenship to register to vote in federal elections.

Supporters of that kind of measure say it protects the integrity of elections. The organizers of Hands Off Our Vote and speakers like Ruffalo argue that such moves threaten access to the ballot, which is the point of their campaign.

Right-leaning outlets also seized on the event, with some criticizing De Niro’s and Ruffalo’s remarks, and the clips spread quickly across social media. The reaction is a reminder of how polarizing celebrity activism can be in an election year.

Ruffalo is no stranger to political activism or controversy. Variety noted that his appearance came just over a month after he drew criticism, including from Paramount, over his comments about the Paramount-Warner Bros. merger.

Elsewhere, he has been outspoken for years on causes ranging from the environment to humanitarian issues, and he regularly uses his platform to rally his fans.

The Hulk reference was a natural fit for the moment. Ruffalo, 58, has played Bruce Banner and the Hulk in the Marvel Cinematic Universe since 2012, and his green alter ego has become a fan-favorite shorthand for righteous anger.

The comments also landed during an interesting moment for the character. ‘Avengers: Endgame Encore’ includes a short clip that appears to show Doctor Doom abducting Banner from a secure cell, and Joe and Anthony Russo have said that more characters are coming to ‘Avengers: Doomsday,’ possibly including the Hulk.

Ruffalo’s remark that he’s still playing the Hulk isn’t a confirmation of anything, and he didn’t elaborate on the film. Still, it gave Marvel fans something extra to chew on, and the remark will likely keep the speculation going until the movie arrives on December 18.

Whatever fans make of the politics, the viral moment shows how much power a pop-culture catchphrase can carry. A single line from Bruce Banner turned a voter-turnout event into one of the most-shared clips of the weekend.

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