Robert De Niro turned his prestigious Palme d’Or acceptance into a passionate call to action at the Cannes Film Festival on Tuesday night, fiercely criticizing Donald Trump and warning of a global threat to democracy and the arts.
“We are fighting like hell for the democracy we once took for granted,” De Niro told a roaring Grand Lumière audience. Linking art to truth and resistance, he argued that creativity is precisely why autocrats fear artists. “Art embraces diversity. That’s why art is a threat.”
The 81-year-old actor, presented the award by Leonardo DiCaprio, didn’t hold back, blasting Trump’s new proposed 100% tariffs on foreign-made films. “You can’t put a price on creativity,” De Niro said. “But apparently you can put a tariff on it.”
Calling for peaceful yet determined protest, De Niro urged global citizens to organize and vote. His impassioned speech ended with a rousing “Liberté, Égalité, Fraternité.”
This year’s Cannes Festival is already charged with real-world controversies, from Gérard Depardieu’s conviction to growing labor unrest among festival workers. Yet amid the turbulence, De Niro’s speech reinforced the enduring power of art — and artists — to challenge injustice and inspire change.
The Cannes Film Festival continues through May 24.
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