Robert De Niro used his acceptance speech for the honorary Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival on May 13, 2025, to launch a passionate critique of former President Donald Trump, urging the international community to stand against what he described as a "global" threat.
Leonardo DiCaprio presented De Niro with the award, and De Niro used the moment to address the Cannes audience, calling Trump "America's philistine president." He defined "philistine" as someone hostile or indifferent to culture and the arts, or who has no understanding of them. De Niro's comments come in response to Trump's proposed tariffs on films made outside the U.S. De Niro stated, "You can't put a price on creativity, but apparently you can put a tariff on it." He went on to say, "Of course, this is unacceptable. All 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.”
De Niro called for action, stating, "It's time for everyone who cares about liberty to organize, to protest, and when there are elections, of course, to vote." He also referenced France's national motto, "Liberté, Égalité, Fraternité," as a call to rally against Trump. He argued that Trump's policies, including cuts to funding for the arts, humanities, and education, pose a threat to the arts community worldwide.
De Niro emphasized the importance of art, stating, "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, that's why we are a threat to autocrats and fascists."
The actor's speech resonated with many in attendance at the festival, which he described as "a marketplace of ideas, a celebration of work and a catalyst of new projects,” adding that “this is my community.” De Niro has a long history with Cannes, including winning the Palme d'Or for "Taxi Driver" in 1976 and serving as the president of the jury in 2011.
