Robert De Niro Slams Trump as “America’s Philistine President” in Powerful Cannes Speech
Robert De Niro accepts the honorary Palme d'Or from Leonardo DiCaprio during the opening ceremony at the 78th Cannes Film Festival at the Palais de Festival on May 13, 2025.
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The 78th Festival de Cannes kicks off with political fireworks, as De Niro takes the stage to honor art, democracy—and take down Trump.
The 78th Cannes Film Festival opened with more than its usual cinematic pageantry—it erupted with bold political statements, impassioned calls for action, and a moment of piercing cultural commentary. Legendary actor Robert De Niro took the stage at the Grand Théâtre Lumière not just to accept an honorary Palme d’Or, but to channel the global spotlight toward a defense of democratic ideals and creative freedom. What might have been a nostalgic career tribute transformed into a thunderous declaration of resistance, setting a powerful tone for what many expect to be the most politically charged Cannes in years.
“In my country, we are fighting like hell for the democracy we once took for granted,” De Niro declared, standing shoulder to shoulder with Leonardo DiCaprio, who delivered a heartfelt tribute before presenting the award. “Art is the crucible that brings people together. 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.”
Though he didn’t mention Donald Trump by name, his indictment of the former president’s cultural legacy was unmistakable. He denounced Trump as “America’s Philistine president,” condemning his appointment to cultural institutions, his slash-and-burn approach to public funding for the arts, and his newly announced 100% tariff on foreign films—a move De Niro decried as not only shortsighted, but globally harmful. “You can’t put a price on creativity,” he said to an audience of artists and cinephiles. “But apparently you can put a tariff on it.”
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The actor’s urgency reverberated throughout the auditorium. “This isn’t just an American problem—it’s a global one,” he insisted, drawing applause and hushed intensity. “Like a film, we can’t all just sit back and watch. We have to act. We have to act now.”
He urged action, not aggression. “Not with violence,” he clarified, “but with great passion and determination. Organize. Protest. Vote. That’s how we protect liberty.” De Niro closed his speech with a rousing invocation of the French national motto: “Liberté, Égalité, Fraternité.” It was a moment that would echo across headlines long after the curtain dropped.
Laurent Lafitte, returning to host the opening night, followed with a similarly pointed monologue. The French actor, in full command of the stage, paid homage to a lineage of politically engaged artists, citing figures such as Josephine Baker, Jean Gabin, Marlene Dietrich, and Richard Gere—all actors who used their fame to advocate for justice. Lafitte even included Volodymyr Zelensky, calling him an actor who became “a leader forged by war.”
Lafitte’s speech targeted the rising tide of censorship and authoritarianism. “Words and issues tied to racial equity, gender identity, and climate change are increasingly being silenced by the administration of the last superpower,” he said. “Here in Cannes, we protect real-life cinema.” Quoting Frank Capra, he closed with a rallying cry for artists everywhere: “Only the daring should make films.”
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The political current intensified when Jury President Juliette Binoche took the microphone. Known for her emotional honesty and spiritual presence, Binoche used her platform to reflect on the moral responsibility of artists. “The higher the level of cruelty, the more vital our involvement becomes,” she said, listing a litany of global crises—from war to misogyny to environmental catastrophe.
Her most powerful moment came when she honored Fatima Hassouna, a Palestinian photojournalist and documentary subject killed in Gaza days after learning her film had been selected by Cannes. “Fatima should have been with us tonight,” Binoche said solemnly. “Art endures. It is the most powerful witness to our dreams and our lives.”
Even amid the somber tone, the night held celebration. Amélie Bonnin’s Leave One Day (Partir Un Jour) made its world premiere. Adapted from her César-winning short, the romantic dramedy stars Juliette Armanet as a Parisian chef forced to return to her hometown and confront her past. Its nationwide release across more than 380 cinemas symbolized France’s cultural embrace of its own stories.
Tarantino prepares to drop the mic after officially opening the Cannes Film Festival.
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Cannes being Cannes, the evening didn’t pass without a touch of flamboyance. Quentin Tarantino surprised the crowd by delivering the official festival opening declaration with his trademark swagger—punctuated by a literal mic drop. The symbolism wasn’t lost: a provocative filmmaker opening a politically vibrant edition of cinema’s grandest festival.
Before De Niro’s spotlight moment, DiCaprio offered a deeply personal introduction. He recalled auditioning for This Boy’s Life as a teenager, nervously improvising a shouted monologue during a crowded casting call. “Later that day,” he said, “De Niro turned to the producer and said, ‘Second kid from the last.’ That was me. That moment changed my life.”
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The audience laughed, but DiCaprio shifted gears. “Bob taught us how to inhabit characters with soul, with silence, with vulnerability. He is the blueprint.”
He added: “De Niro may prefer to remain behind the scenes, but every once in a while, even the most private giants deserve their spotlight. Tonight, we offer him that and more.”
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As the ceremony concluded and the Cannes spotlight turned toward the festival ahead, it was De Niro’s call to arms that lingered: “Only the daring should make films.”
