Robert De Niro Slams Trump in Fiery Speech at Cannes Film Festival While Accepting Lifetime Honor
Hollywood legend Robert De Niro stirred international headlines at the 78th Cannes Film Festival—not just for receiving one of cinema’s highest honors, but for delivering a passionate critique of former President Donald Trump and his administration’s stance on the arts.
On May 13, 2025, De Niro was awarded the prestigious honorary Palme d’Or for lifetime achievement, marking a crowning moment in his celebrated career as an actor, director, and producer.
The award, presented by Leonardo DiCaprio, came more than a decade after De Niro himself served as Jury President at Cannes in 2011.
The 87-year-old icon attended the glamorous ceremony with his 45-year-old partner, Tiffany Chen, and his daughter, Helen Grace De Niro, drawing admiration from fans and photographers alike as they walked the red carpet at the Palais des Festivals in Cannes, France.
But it was De Niro’s impassioned acceptance speech that truly captured the spotlight.
“In my country, we are fighting like hell for the democracy we once took for granted,” De Niro said, addressing an international audience of filmmakers, actors, and industry leaders. “That matters here too—because the arts, by their very nature, are democratic.”
In a direct rebuke of Donald Trump’s recent actions, De Niro criticized the former president’s self-appointment as chair of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, calling him “America’s philistine president.”
He also condemned the administration’s proposed 100% tariff on international films, arguing that such policies would hurt cultural exchange and undermine creative freedom.
“He’s slashing support for the arts, humanities, and education. And now, he wants to make foreign films unaffordable in America,” De Niro said, urging the audience to reflect on the long-term consequences of such measures. “Let that sink in for a minute.”
Calling the developments “unacceptable,” the Goodfellas star emphasized that these are not just American issues, but global ones.
“We cannot afford to be passive observers,” he declared. “This is a moment to stand up—not with violence, but with conviction. We must organize, speak out, and, above all, vote.”
De Niro’s remarks were met with applause and nods of agreement from many in the crowd, underscoring the power of film as a platform for political expression and social change.
As the curtain rose on the festival’s 78th edition, De Niro’s words served as a reminder that the arts don’t just entertain—they challenge, inspire, and hold power to shape the future.
