Honorary Palme d'Or recipient Robert De Niro poses for photographers during a photo call at the 78th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, May 13, 2025 (Joel C Ryan/AP)

During the opening ceremony of the Cannes Film Festival on Tuesday, American actor Robert De Niro launched a scathing attack on US President Donald Trump, calling him a threat to global stability.

Receiving the honorary Palme d'Or, De Niro delivered an impassioned speech, warning that Trump's policies are not only a problem for the United States but for the entire world.

"In my country, we are fighting like hell for the democracy we once took for granted," De Niro stated. "That affects all of us here, because art is the crucible that brings people together, like tonight. Art looks for truth. Art embraces diversity. That’s why art is a threat."

De Niro's comments came just days after Trump announced a 100% tariff on films produced outside the US, claiming that the American film industry was facing a "very fast death" due to foreign incentives attracting filmmakers. De Niro vehemently opposed the move, stating, "You can’t put a price on creativity, but apparently you can put a tariff on it. Of course, this is unacceptable."

He further criticized Trump’s cultural stance, saying, "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." De Niro stressed that these attacks were not just an American problem but a global one, warning that they threaten the core values of freedom and creativity.

Trump’s tariffs on foreign films spark global concern

In addition to his criticisms of Trump's stance on the arts, De Niro also addressed the broader implications of Trump’s tariff policies. The US president has imposed the highest tariffs in over a century, with an average duty of 22.5%, up from just 2.5% last year.

Economists warn that these tariffs could trigger inflation, heighten the risk of a US recession, and significantly raise living costs for the average American. De Niro’s message was clear: these policies are not only detrimental to the US but to global stability.

Robert De Niro calls out Donald Trump while accepting his honorary Palme d'Or at #Cannes2025 pic.twitter.com/qwze5ZnQg5
— The Hollywood Reporter (@THR) May 13, 2025

Calls for unity and protest in defense of liberty

Wrapping up his address, De Niro urged the crowd to take action "without violence, but with great passion and determination." He called on individuals who care about liberty to organize, protest, and, when the time comes, vote.

"It's time for anyone who cares about liberty to organize, to protest, and when there are elections, of course, to vote," De Niro concluded, calling for decisive action against Trump’s policies.