Robert De Niro lashes out at 'philistine president' Trump in Cannes speech, calls him a 'global problem'

CANNES, FRANCE: Robert De Niro has taken aim at President Donald Trump once again.

The 78th edition of the Cannes Film Festival kicked off Tuesday evening, 13 May, with a night that mixed Hollywood glamour and political intensity.

De Niro, who received an honorary Palme d’Or from Leonardo DiCaprio, used the occasion to slam "America’s philistine president." 

Robert De Niro says ‘art is a threat to autocrats' at Cannes

De Niro used his moment on stage to issue a stark warning about threats to democracy and the role of art under the presidency of Donald Trump.

“In my country, we are fighting like hell for the democracy we once took for granted. That affects all of us here because the arts are democratic," De Niro said.

"Art is inclusive, it brings people together. Art embraces diversity and that’s why art is a threat, that’s why we are a threat to autocrats and fascists,” De Niro continued, according to Deadline. 

The actor said Trump’s actions were harmful not only to the arts but to the values shared globally.

“America’s philistine president has had himself appointed head of one of our premier cultural institutions,” he said.

“He has cut funding and support to the arts, humanities and education. And now he has announced a 100% tariff on films produced outside of the US Let that sink in. … You can’t put a price on creativity, but apparently you can put a tariff on it.”

Robert De Niro calls Trump’s policies ‘a global problem’ at Cannes

De Niro connected the issue to a wider international concern. “This is not just an American problem, it’s a global one,” De Niro said.

He urged people to resist these changes not with violence, but with active civic participation.

“We can’t all just sit back and watch. We have to act and we have to act now, not with violence but with great passion and determination," De Niro continued.

He further said, "It’s time for everyone who cares about liberty to organize, to protest — and when there are elections, of course, to vote. Tonight and for the next 11 days we show our strength and commitment by celebrating art in this glorious festival. Liberte, egalite, fraternite,” he added.

Leonardo DiCaprio hails Robert De Niro as 'the actor’

Leonardo DiCaprio, who presented the honorary Palme d’Or to De Niro, spoke about the legendary actor’s influence on generations of performers.

“Growing up in Los Angeles, every young actor I knew watched De Niro’s work," DiCaprio said.

He added, "We studied him, trying to understand how he immersed himself so completely in his characters. He created the blueprint. He wasn’t just another great actor, he was the actor." 

He also reflected on how his own career began alongside De Niro. “The audition process was a tough one. Lots of competition. None of us knew who would get the part… at 15 or 16 years old, I did the only thing I couldn’t think to stand."

"I screamed at him at the top of my lungs,” DiCaprio recalled about working with De Niro on 'This Boy’s Life'.