Hollywood veteran actor Robert De Niro criticized U.S. President Donald Trump’s 100% film tariff policy as "snobbish."
De Niro won the honorary Palme d'Or at the opening ceremony of the 78th Cannes International Film Festival held in Cannes, France, on the 13th.
The honorary Palme d'Or is a distinguished award considered "the Palme d'Or of Palmes" related to the Golden Palm, which is the top prize in the Cannes Film Festival institutional sector. It was first awarded to Swedish director Ingmar Bergman in 1997, the 50th anniversary of the Cannes Film Festival. Robert De Niro was selected this time to be honored for his contributions as a Hollywood veteran actor.
During his acceptance speech, De Niro stated, "Art is truth. Art embraces diversity. Therefore, it poses a threat to the world’s dictators and fascists." He added, "The 'snobbish' president of the United States has appointed himself as the head of one of America’s top cultural institutions. He has cut funding and support for the arts, humanities, and education."
Furthermore, he added, "Now that (the U.S. president) announced a 100% tariff on films made in the United States, it seems creativity has no price, but tariffs do. All these attacks are unacceptable. This is not just an issue for America; it's a global problem. We cannot just sit and watch like we do at the movies. We must take action, right now, with great passion and determination, even non-violently."
Recently, U.S. President Donald Trump sparked controversy by announcing that he would impose a 100% tariff on films produced overseas, not within the country. As a result of the tariff war between the United States and China, the Hollywood film production industry has been hit hard. Despite Trump emphasizing that he remains open regarding the direction of his policies amid the debate, the impact on the film market, which is facing a global recession, was inevitable.
In this context, Robert De Niro, a Hollywood veteran actor and the newly appointed head of the Kennedy Center, often regarded as the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts in the U.S., made a strong comment labeling President Trump as "snobbish." Additionally, De Niro's appointment as the head of the Kennedy Center by Trump, coupled with his call for global attention at the Cannes Film Festival, added to the significance of his remarks.
/ monamie@oen.co.kr
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