Trump renews threat to impose 100% tariffs on foreign-made films

Trump threatens 100% tariffs on foreign-made films to protect US movie industry and revive domestic production

President Donald Trump has reiterated his intention to impose a 100% tariff on films produced outside the United States, arguing that the American film industry has been “stolen” by other countries.

In a post on his social media platform Truth Social on Monday, Trump claimed that foreign film production is hurting the U.S. economy and Hollywood, stating, “Our movie making business has been stolen from the United States of America… just like stealing candy from a baby.”

https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/115287691323395767

Trump specifically criticized California, blaming what he called a “weak and incompetent” state leadership for the decline in domestic film production. He said the proposed tariffs are intended to address what he described as a “long time, never ending problem.”

This is not the first time Trump has floated such a proposal. In May, he described foreign film production as a national security concern, citing the potential for “messaging and propaganda” and the migration of filmmakers to more cost-effective international markets.

In recent years, U.S. film and television productions have increasingly shifted overseas, drawn by attractive tax incentives offered in countries like the United Kingdom, Australia, and New Zealand. While some productions relocate to cut costs, others are filmed internationally to match their storylines or to accommodate directors’ creative visions. Notably, directors such as Denis Villeneuve (“Dune”) and Christopher Nolan (the upcoming “Odyssey”) often choose to shoot on location rather than rely solely on soundstages.

California Governor Gavin Newsom, whom Trump mentioned in his statement, has responded by expanding the state’s film tax credit program in an effort to keep productions in-state. Newsom, a frequent critic of Trump, said in a summer press conference that his own sharp-tongued social media posts are modeled after the former president’s tone, saying, “It’s following his example.”