Hollywood legend Robert De Niro used his platform at the Cannes Film Festival to launch a pointed attack on US President Donald Trump, as he accepted the prestigious Palme d’Or lifetime achievement award on Tuesday night.
Addressing an audience packed with cinema’s elite in the south of France, the 81-year-old actor described Trump as a “philistine president” and warned that American democracy is at risk. “In my country, we are fighting like hell for the democracy we once took for granted,” De Niro said, urging global solidarity in the defense of democratic values.
De Niro’s speech highlighted the power of the arts as a unifying force, and their role in challenging authoritarianism. “The arts are democratic, art is inclusive and brings people together, like tonight. Art looks for truth. Art embraces diversity, and that’s why art is a threat,” he explained. “That’s why we are a threat to autocrats and fascists.”
He condemned Trump’s recent actions in the cultural sphere, criticizing the president’s appointment as head of the Kennedy Center and cuts to funding for the arts, humanities, and education. De Niro also took aim at Trump’s reported proposal to impose tariffs on films produced outside the US, saying, “You can’t put a price on creativity, but apparently you can put a tariff on it. Of course, this is unacceptable. All of these attacks are unacceptable.”
Expanding his warning, De Niro reminded the crowd that the fight for artistic freedom and democracy extends beyond the United States. “This isn’t just an American problem, it’s a global one. Unlike a film, we can’t just all sit back and watch. We have to act, and we have to act now.”
He ended his remarks with a passionate call to resist Trump’s policies “without violence, but with great passion and determination.” De Niro encouraged everyone who values liberty to organize, protest, and, above all, to vote. “Tonight, and for the next 11 days, we show our strength and commitment by celebrating art in this glorious festival. Liberté, Égalité, Fraternité.”
Known for his outspoken criticism of Trump, De Niro recently appeared in a campaign ad for former President Joe Biden and has previously labeled Trump a “clown.”
