Cannes 2025: Robert De Niro launches attack on “philistine” Donald Trump during opening ceremony
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During the opening ceremony of the Cannes Film Festival on May 13th, Hollywood icon Robert De Niro accepted an honorary Palme d’Or and used his speech to attack Donald Trump.
De Niro has been one of the loudest critics of Trump in Hollywood over the last decade and even turned up outside of Trump’s hush money trial in New York. Now, after being presented with the honorary Palme d’Or from close associate Leonardo DiCaprio, De Niro used his platform to defend art from being silenced by the Trump administration.
He remarked of the political climate in America: “In my country, we are fighting like hell for the democracy we once took for granted. That affects all of us here, because art is the crucible that brings people together, like tonight. Art looks for truth. Art embraces diversity. That’s why art is a threat.”
After receiving applause from those in attendance, De Niro continued with his scathing criticism of the Trump administration, adding, “That’s why we are a threat to autocrats and fascists. 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.”
De Niro also hit out at Trump’s plans to introduce 100 per cent tariffs on movies made outside of America, stating, “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. And this isn’t just an American problem, it’s a global one. Like a film, we can’t just all sit back and watch. We have to act, and we have to act now.”
He then encouraged people to fight back against the Trump regime “without violence, but with great passion and determination”.
The actor powerfully concluded his speech: “It’s time for everyone who cares about liberty to organise, to protest, and when there are elections, vote. Vote. Tonight, and for the next 11 days, we show our strength and commitment by celebrating art in this glorious festival. Liberté, Égalité, Fraternité.”
Cannes Film Festival began on May 13th with the premiere of the opening movie, Partir Un Jour, and the stars of Hollywood will continue to descend upon the south of France until the festival concludes on May 24th.
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