Renowned Spanish filmmaker Pedro Almodóvar strongly criticised former U.S. President Donald Trump during his acceptance speech at the Chaplin Award Gala in New York.

Almodóvar, known for acclaimed films such as Pain and Glory and The Room Next Door, admitted he had reservations about attending the event due to his opposition to Trump, whom he described as a “catastrophe.”

“I doubted if it was appropriate to come to a country ruled by a narcissistic authority, who doesn’t respect human rights,” Almodóvar said, as reported by Female First UK. “Trump and his friends, millionaires and oligarchs, cannot convince us that the reality we are seeing with our own eyes is the opposite of what we are living.”

The Oscar-winning director directly addressed Trump in his remarks: “Mr. Trump, I’m talking to you. You will go down in history as the greatest mistake of our time. Your naivete is only comparable to your violence. You will go down in history as a catastrophe.”

Almodóvar also denounced Trump’s stance on immigration, asserting, “Immigrants are not criminals. It was Russia that invaded Ukraine.”

The evening also featured a tribute from singer-songwriter Dua Lipa, who praised Almodóvar’s commitment to inclusive storytelling. “I especially love how you completely normalised trans and gay storylines — something that still feels like a radical act,” she said.

Meanwhile, Karla Sofía Gascón, the first trans actor nominated for an Academy Award for her role in Emilia Perez, has also voiced concern about returning to the U.S. amid what she perceives as hostile policies toward trans people under the Trump administration.