Robert De Niro Drags Trump, Calls Art ‘Threat to Autocrats’ in Cannes Speech

Robert De Niro was awarded an honorary Palme d’Or Tuesday night at Cannes, and criticized President Donald Trump during his acceptance speech.

“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,” De Niro said onstage, per The Hollywood Reporter. “That’s why art is a threat. That’s why we are a threat to autocrats and fascists.”

The actor’s powerful words drew applause from the crowd and Leonardo DiCaprio, who shared a tribute to De Niro at the Grand Lumiére theater event.

“America’s Philistine president has had himself appointed head of one of our premier cultural institutions [the Kennedy Center]. 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,” De Niro said. “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.”

De Niro continued by saying that, “like a film, we can’t just all sit back and watch,” and called for people to act “without violence, but with great passion and determination.” The two-time Oscar winner also urged those in the audience to organize, protest, vote, and “show our strength” during the film festival.
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The actor has consistently shared his criticism of Trump, including at the Megalopolis screening ahead of the election. He also delivered remarks at a Biden-Harris event back in May 2024. During a December 2023 interview, he called getting rid of Trump his priority.

“Trump brings out the worst in people. He’s a monster. I didn’t think that in the beginning when he was first elected. I thought, ‘Maybe he’ll straighten out.’ Now, this guy is beyond dangerous, and I just hope people can realize it,” he told Rolling Stone at the time. “Once you go down that road, it won’t be easy to come back.”