Leonardo DiCaprio to give Palm Springs International Film Awards a miss amid Trump's Venezuela raid

Leonardo DiCaprio will miss the Palm Springs International Film Awards this week after being stranded in St. Barths due to unfolding geopolitical tensions in Venezuela, sources say. The actor had been scheduled to attend the awards, but shifting flight routes and global tensions forced a last-minute change of plans.

DiCaprio was set to receive the Desert Palm Achievement Award for his performance in One Battle After Another. According to Variety, he had to cancel the plan because of the rerouting of flights due to ongoing tensions in Venezuela.

“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 honoured to recognise 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.”

Palm Springs International Airport released a statement on X announcing that departing flights are at a ground stop. The statement read, “An FAA air traffic control issue is impacting Southern California airspace today. Departing flights are currently under a ground stop. 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. Travellers should check directly with their airline for the latest flight information. PSP will share updates as needed,” the same outlet reported.

Early Saturday, US President Donald Trump said that Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, were taken into American custody after an overnight military operation.

Fans and industry observers took to social media to share their reactions, with many offering support to the actor and expressing understanding amid an unexpected geopolitical disruption. “Really unfortunate timing,” one fan wrote, while another said, “Hope he’s safe and back soon.”