Robert De Niro calls for protest against ‘philistine’ Trump as Cannes opens

During the opening ceremony of the 78th Cannes Film Festival in France, legendary Hollywood actor Robert De Niro took the stage to accept his Honorary Palme d'Or for lifetime achievement. Presented by longtime collaborator Leonardo DiCaprio, De Niro used his acceptance speech to deliver strong criticism against U.S. President Donald Trump.

The 81-year-old star, known for iconic roles in films like *Taxi Driver* and *Raging Bull*, labeled President Trump a "philistine." He highlighted the administration's alleged cuts to funding and support for arts, humanities, and education, and also specifically called out the recently announced 100% tariff on films produced outside the United States.

De Niro shared his perspective on creativity and economics, stating, "You can’t put a price on creativity, but apparently, you can put a tariff on it." Following this statement, he urged "everyone who cares about liberty" to voice their protest against the President.

While festival organizers typically aim to keep the focus squarely on cinema, this year's event has seen political and global issues take a more prominent role. Screenings featuring films from Gaza, Ukraine, and Iran, coupled with the timing of Trump's tariff announcement just before the festival, have undeniably brought world affairs to the forefront.

Adding to the sentiment, Juliette Binoche, serving as the head of this year's jury, used her own speech to honor Palestinian photojournalist Fatma Hassona, who tragically died in an Israeli airstrike in Gaza and is the subject of a documentary being shown at the festival.

The festival was officially opened by acclaimed U.S. director Quentin Tarantino, marking the start of the event which is scheduled to run until May 24. The opening night premiere featured the French comedy *Leave One Day*.

The red carpet saw appearances from notable figures including U.S. actor Eva Longoria, Japanese director Hirokazu Kore-eda, and U.S. director Sean Baker, who won the top Palme d'Or prize the previous year for *Anora*. Interestingly, there was recent attention on the festival's updated dress code, which reportedly banned nudity and overly long gown trains.

German model Heidi Klum was seen on the red carpet in a gown with a significant train, yet she was granted entry. Meanwhile, actress Halle Berry, also on this year's jury, mentioned earlier in the day that she had to make a last-minute outfit change to comply with the updated guidelines.