Cruise dodges query about Trump tariffs

Actor was in Seoul promoting 'MI 8'

Tom Cruise shut down a politically charged question about Donald Trump's proposed film tariffs during a Mission: Impossible — The Final Reckoning press event held in Seoul on Thursday. The actor, alongside director Christopher McQuarrie and co-stars Hayley Atwell, Simon Pegg, Pom Klementieff, and Greg Tarzan Davis, was promoting the final chapter of the blockbuster franchise when a reporter veered into unexpected territory.

As reported by The Hollywood Reporter, the journalist, speaking through a translator, asked whether the film would be affected by Trump's floated plan to impose a 100 per cent tariff on films shot outside the US. The reporter cited the film's many international locations, including Africa, and questioned the economic implications for Hollywood.

Cruise responded calmly but firmly, leaning off-mic to tell the translator, "We'd rather answer questions about the movie. Thank you." The moderator echoed his sentiment, calling it a "fair answer," and swiftly moved on.

Trump's proposed tariffs have sparked anxiety across the entertainment industry. In a post on social media platform Truth Social, the US president called overseas film production a "national security threat" and promised action to revive domestic filmmaking. While the White House later clarified that no final decision had been made, the threat already triggered closed-door strategy talks among Hollywood's top studio heads.

Although The Final Reckoning is a US production under Paramount, much of it was shot abroad, including in the UK, Norway, and South Africa, raising questions about its vulnerability under any future policy.

The Mission: Impossible press stop in Seoul may be just the beginning. International film festivals like Cannes could see more American stars fielding questions about Hollywood's uncertain geopolitical future. The film hits theatres on May 23.