The legendary actor Robert De Niro has never been shy about being a Trump critic. Over the last few years, he’s been known to bring up his hatred of Trump just about every time he gives an interview or makes a public appearance.
It was no different this week when the actor again tore into the presidency when giving a speech at the Cannes Film Festival in France, where he received the Palme d’Or lifetime achievement award. The speech touched on everything from the president’s proposed movie tariffs to Trump’s takeover of the Kennedy Center.
“In my country, we are fighting like hell for the democracy we once took for granted, and that affects all of us,” the actor said in his speech, as reported by The Daily Beast. “That affects all of us here because the arts are democratic. Art is inclusive. It brings people together, like tonight. Art looks for truth. Art embraces diversity.”
De Niro is the star of classic films like Goodfellas, Casino, The Godfather, Part II, and all three Meet the Parents movies.
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“And that’s why art is a threat. That’s why we are a threat to autocrats and fascists,” he added.
At the 2025 Cannes Film Festival opening, Robert De Niro used his honorary Palme d’Or acceptance speech to sharply criticize Donald Trump, labeling him ‘America’s philistine president’ and an enemy of the arts. pic.twitter.com/e4FOSHrdlU
— NowThis Impact (@nowthisimpact) May 13, 2025
He went on to rip Trump as a “philistine.”
“America’s philistine president has had himself appointed head of one of our premier cultural institutions,” the actor said. “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 for a minute.”
De Niro also proposed a solution.
🔴 Festival de Cannes : “L’art est en quête de la liberté, inclut la diversité. C’est pourquoi l’art est menacé, c’est pourquoi nous sommes une menace pour les autocrates et les fascistes de ce monde”
🗨️ Robert de Niro, Palme d’or d’honneur pic.twitter.com/P7AOt7DVnT
— franceinfo (@franceinfo) May 13, 2025
