DiCaprio Withdraws From Palm Springs Film Awards After Trump’s Raid in Venezuela
Leonardo DiCaprio will miss the Palm Springs International Film Awards this weekend due to U.S. military strikes in Venezuela.
The 51-year-old actor was scheduled to receive the Desert Palm Achievement Award on Saturday, January 3, for his performance in One Battle After Another. Variety reported that DiCaprio was unable to attend because travel from St. Barths, where he was vacationing with girlfriend Vittoria Ceretti and other celebrities, was restricted amid the conflict.
“Leonardo DiCaprio is unable to join us in person tonight due to unexpected travel disruptions and restricted airspace,” a spokesperson for the Palm Springs International Film Festival told Variety.
“While we will miss celebrating with him in person, we are honored to recognize his exceptional work and lasting contributions to cinema. His talent and dedication to the craft continue to inspire, and we are delighted to celebrate him with the Desert Palm Achievement Award this evening.”
The festival originally announced DiCaprio as the award recipient on November 18. At the time, chairman Nachhattar Singh Chandi said, “In One Battle After Another, Leonardo DiCaprio delivers a riveting and emotionally charged performance, embodying a man pushed to his breaking point in the face of relentless adversity. Across his career, DiCaprio has continually redefined what is possible in screen acting — bringing emotional depth, artistic integrity and fearless commitment to every role. It is our honor to present him with the Desert Palm Achievement Award.”
The Palm Springs International Airport also confirmed disruptions on Saturday due to airspace restrictions in Southern California. “An FAA air traffic control issue is impacting Southern California airspace today. Aircraft have been able to arrive, though some inbound flights have diverted, and delays are expected. This is not specific to PSP and is affecting multiple SoCal airports,” the airport said on X. The ground stop was lifted by 4:20 p.m. local time.
PSP TRAVEL ALERT: FAA air traffic control issue impacting SoCal airspace today. Departing flights are under a ground stop. Aircraft have been able to arrive, though some inbound flights have diverted and delays are expected. Check with your airline for the latest flight status. pic.twitter.com/rHIIvgM9y9
— Palm Springs International Airport (@flyPSP) January 3, 2026
The travel disruptions come after President Donald Trump ordered military strikes in Venezuela, aiming to dismantle the regime of President Nicolás Maduro. Trump accused Maduro of drug trafficking and using oil revenue to fund crimes. Airstrikes targeted Caracas and several military bases, according to CBS News and the BBC.
The Associated Press reported that hundreds of flights across the eastern Caribbean, including Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, and Aruba, were canceled or delayed.
After the Palm Springs awards, DiCaprio is set to compete for Best Actor at the Critics Choice Awards on January 4 and for Best Performance by a Male Actor in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy at the Golden Globes on January 11.
DiCaprio stars alongside Chase Infiniti, Teyana Taylor, Benicio del Toro, Sean Penn, and Regina Hall in One Battle After Another, a black comedy-thriller directed by Paul Thomas Anderson.
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