Pedro Almodovar labeled US President Donald Trump, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and Russian President Vladimir Putin as "monsters" during a press conference at the Cannes Film Festival on May 20, 2026, where he presented his latest film, "Bitter Christmas" [1, 2, 3]. Wearing a "Free Palestine" solidarity pin, Almodovar said, "The creator, from their small platform, each from their own, must speak without mincing words" as he criticized silence and fear as signs of democracy eroding [1, 2, 3]. He added, "We are obliged to become a kind of shield against these monsters like Trump, Netanyahu or the Russian" [1].
Almodovar said Europe "will never bow down to Trump's policies," calling out what he described as limits to Trump's "delusions and madness" [1]. His call for artists to speak out echoed recent criticism from Spanish actor Javier Bardem, who condemned the leaders for "toxic masculinity" [3].
"Silence and fear - because it is clearly an expression of fear - are a very bad sign; they are a sign of the erosion of democracy," Almodovar added, making a pointed appeal to the cultural community to act morally [1].
"Bitter Christmas," Almodovar’s latest work competing for the Palme d’Or for the sixth time, is a personal story drawing from people in his life and has received mixed reviews in Spain [1, 3]. Despite the somber tone of his remarks, Almodovar said he plans to make at least one more film that will bring more humor [1]. "But for now, I think I'm going to make one more film; I hope that I'll continue to find the inspiration for more," he said [1].
