Robert De Niro tore into President Trump at the Cannes Film Festival on Tuesday, labeling him “America’s philistine president” and calling on the public to fight to protect the arts.
In his speech accepting the Palme d’Or lifetime achievement award, the iconic actor warned of the threat he sees Trump posing to independent arts and democracy.
“In my country, we are fighting like hell for the democracy we once took for granted, and that affects all of us,” De Niro said in his speech. “That affects all of us here because the arts are democratic. Art is inclusive, it brings people together, like tonight. Art looks for truth. Art embraces diversity.”
“And that’s why art is a threat. That’s why we are a threat to autocrats and fascists,” he continued, pausing for audience applause.
De Niro continued, blasting Trump for naming himself chair of the Kennedy Center and proposing a tariff on foreign films.
“America’s philistine president has had himself appointed head of one of our premier cultural institutions. He has cut funding and support to the arts, humanities and education. And now he has announced a 100 percent tariff on films produced outside the U.S. Let that sink in for a minute.”
“You can’t put a price on creativity, but apparently you can put a tariff on it,” he added.
De Niro concluded his speech by describing the threat as a global issue and calling on the public to fight for the arts “without violence, but with great passion and determination.”
“Of course, this is unacceptable. All of these attacks are unacceptable. And 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,” De Niro said.
“It’s time for everyone who cares about liberty to organize, to protest, and when there are elections, of course, to vote. Vote. Tonight, and for the next 11 days, we show our strength and commitment by celebrating art in this glorious festival. Liberté, egalité, fraternité,” he added.
De Niro and Trump have frequently found themselves at odds. De Niro was a strong supporter of Trump’s 2024 election opponent, former Vice President Kamala Harris, and, before former President Biden exited the race, De Niro narrated a campaign ad for Biden calling Trump an “unhinged, power-hungry candidate.”
De Niro called Trump a “clown” bent on destroying democracy outside a New York City courtroom last year, and Trump has frequently fired back at the actor, labeling him a “wacko.”
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