'Uncultured' and 'philistine': De Niro attacks Trump in Cannes

The 78th edition of the Cannes Film Festival kicked off on Tuesday and the opening ceremony was marked by the awarding of the honorary Palme d'Or to Robert De Niro.

The 81-year-old actor used his “airtime” to call for action “now and with passion” in defense of democracy and freedom in America, in the face of an “uneducated president” , Donald Trump. “Unlike a movie, we cannot simply sit back and relax. We must act today, right now, without violence, but with passion, with determination! The time has come, all who love freedom must organize, protest” , he appealed.

“Art is inclusive […] it seeks freedom, [ …] that is why it is threatened and that we are a threat to the autocrats and fascists of this world,” he added.

De Niro has long been an outspoken opponent of Donald Trump – whom he also called a “philistine president” in his speech. Trump, in turn, has accused the actor of being a “loser” and a “failure” .