Pedro Almodóvar Slams Trump in Fiery Speech at Lincoln Center Honors: ‘You Will Go Down in History as a Catastrophe’
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The Spanish auteur used his acceptance of the 50th Chaplin Award to deliver an impassioned political statement, reflect on a lifetime shaped by art and activism, and issue a call to preserve human dignity in the face of rising authoritarianism.
Pedro Almodóvar did not mince words at the 50th annual Chaplin Award Gala hosted by Film at Lincoln Center. As he accepted one of cinema’s most prestigious honors at Manhattan’s Alice Tully Hall, the legendary Spanish filmmaker delivered a speech that blended sharp political outrage, poignant personal reflection, and an urgent call for vigilance and compassion in divisive times. His remarks electrified the room and underscored his lifelong commitment to freedom of expression, human rights, and social justice.
“I doubted if it was appropriate to come to a country ruled by a narcissistic authority who doesn’t respect human rights,” Almodóvar declared, addressing the packed audience with unflinching honesty. “Trump and his friends, millionaires and oligarchs, cannot convince us that the reality we are seeing with our own eyes is the opposite of what we are living, however much they may twist words to suit their narrative.”
In one of the evening’s most searing moments, Almodóvar directly addressed Trump: “Mr. Trump, I’m talking to you, and I hope you hear what I’m about to say: You will go down in history as the greatest mistake of our time. Your naiveté is only comparable to your violence. You will be remembered as one of humanity’s greatest disasters—a true catastrophe."
The acclaimed director of Talk to Her, All About My Mother, Pain and Glory, and Parallel Mothers did not stop there. He called out the broader erosion of civil liberties, particularly the systematic attacks on LGBTQ+ rights under the Trump administration. For Almodóvar, whose vibrant filmography has long celebrated LGBTQ+ lives with complexity and humanity, these issues are personal as well as political.
Drawing from his personal history growing up under Francisco Franco's dictatorship in Spain, Almodóvar detailed how censorship, repression, and state-controlled media fueled his desire to create films that told the truth. “Cinema became my portal to another world,” he said. “It offered escape, imagination, rebellion—and ultimately, a path toward a freer, more democratic future.” He painted a vivid picture of Spain's transformation during the democratic transition of the late 1970s and early 1980s, an era that helped shape his unique artistic voice and deep-rooted belief in the power of cultural resistance.
In a heartfelt aside, Almodóvar turned attention to Spain's current struggles, acknowledging the nationwide blackout affecting millions. “My thoughts are with everyone impacted by this situation,” he said, his voice marked by worry and solidarity.
Yet despite the heavy political themes, the evening was also a celebration of Almodóvar’s indelible contributions to global cinema. Director John Waters took the stage to honor him, describing Almodóvar as "the best filmmaker in the world," lauding his economy of storytelling, fearless embrace of unconventional beauty, and his remarkable ability to fuse humor, pathos, and absurdity.
Actor John Turturro, who recently starred in Almodóvar’s The Room Next Door, shared a personal anecdote about discovering Matador in 1987 and instantly recognizing a singular voice in cinema. “He has a unique vision,” Turturro said, “and an irreverent sense of humor that makes you trust you're about to embark on a wild ride.”
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Dua Lipa, one of Almodóvar’s newer friends, reflected on how his work seamlessly normalizes LGBTQ+ narratives with a lightness that feels radical in today’s political climate. “You approach these stories with such heart,” she said, “without ever losing the joy and vitality that defines your films.”
Pre-recorded tributes from Martin Scorsese, Tilda Swinton, and Antonio Banderas added an international chorus of admiration. Each praised Almodóvar not only for his creative brilliance but for his enduring moral clarity and courage as an artist unafraid to tackle taboo subjects and human contradictions.
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For Almodóvar, the evening was a personal milestone. Over decades, the New York Film Festival—organized by Film at Lincoln Center—has been a champion of his work, premiering landmark films such as Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown and All About My Mother. His most recent film, The Room Next Door, even filmed a crucial scene outside the very auditorium where he now stood, linking past and present in a poignant full-circle moment.
“They embraced my work, and they embraced me,” Almodóvar said in his closing remarks, his voice breaking slightly. “It is here that I have always felt understood, supported, and—above all—free.”
With a speech that combined searing political critique, deep gratitude, and a defiant celebration of freedom and creativity, Pedro Almodóvar reminded his audience that cinema is never neutral. It is a form of resistance, a vessel of memory, and a lifeline for imagining better futures. His fiery words left no doubt: Art matters—especially when the stakes are highest.
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