During his acceptance speech at the 78th Cannes Film Festival, Robert De Niro openly criticized U.S. President Donald Trump, labeling him a global threat. He emphasized the ongoing struggle for democracy in the U.S. and how art serves as a unifying force against authoritarianism. De Niro decried Trump's tariffs on foreign films and cuts to arts funding, describing these actions as unacceptable. He urged the audience to take action peacefully by organizing protests and voting, reinforcing the power of creativity and collaboration in the face of cultural threats.
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.
America's philistine president has had himself appointed head of one of our premier cultural institutions [the Kennedy Center]. He has cut funding and support to the arts, humanities and education.
You can't put a price on creativity, said De Niro, but apparently you can put a tariff on it. Of course, this is unacceptable. All of these attacks are unacceptable.
It's time for everyone who cares about liberty to organise, he said, to protest, and when there are elections, vote. Vote. Tonight, and for the next 11 days, we show our strength and commitment.
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