Declaring war on Hollywood’s runaway production crisis, President Donald Trump has taken bold action to save America’s film industry.
Specifically, the president has authorized a 100% tariff on foreign-made films to protect American jobs and combat foreign influence.
President Trump declared the exodus of film production overseas a “National Security threat” that is allowing foreign propaganda to infiltrate American entertainment.
The president minced no words about the dire situation in a Truth Social post that sent shockwaves through the entertainment industry.
He declared:
“The Movie Industry in America is DYING a very fast death. Other Countries are offering all sorts of incentives to draw our filmmakers and studios away from the United States. Hollywood, and many other areas within the U.S.A., are being devastated. This is a concerted effort by other Nations and, therefore, a National Security threat. It is, in addition to everything else, messaging and propaganda!”
The president’s orders have already set wheels in motion at the highest levels of government.
Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick immediately signaled his department’s readiness to implement the directive, responding simply with, “We’re on it.”
This swift action demonstrates the administration’s commitment to revitalizing American entertainment production.
For years, Hollywood has been hemorrhaging productions to countries like Canada, the United Kingdom, and Australia.
These nations have implemented aggressive tax incentives specifically designed to lure American productions away from their traditional home in California and other U.S. states.
The Movie Industry in America is DYING a very fast death. Other Countries are offering all sorts of incentives to draw our filmmakers and studios away from the United States. Hollywood, and many other areas within the U.S.A., are being devastated. This is a concerted effort by…
— Donald J. Trump Posts From His Truth Social (@TrumpDailyPosts) May 4, 2025
The trend has devastated local economies that once thrived on film production while allowing foreign influence over American entertainment content.
President Trump has assembled an all-star team to champion American filmmaking, appointing Hollywood actors Sylvester Stallone, Mel Gibson, and Jon Voight as “Special Hollywood Ambassadors.”
Voight has been especially active, working on a federal tax incentive plan to encourage studios to keep production on American soil.
Unlike California Governor Gavin Newsom, who President Trump criticized for allowing the industry’s decline, the Trump administration is taking decisive action.
The tariff plan comes at a critical time for American cinema. Despite a recent 15.8% increase in box office numbers in 2025, FilmLA has reported alarming drops in feature production levels.
Major studios including Disney, Sony, Universal, and Warner Bros. have shifted significant portions of their production overseas, robbing American workers of jobs and economic opportunities.
These tariffs send a clear message: America will no longer subsidize the entertainment industries of foreign nations at the expense of its own workers.
As President Trump put it, “WE WANT MOVIES MADE IN AMERICA, AGAIN!”
The plan aims to reverse decades of production flight, which hollowed out once-thriving entertainment hubs across the nation.
Industry experts note that implementation will face challenges, including a World Trade Organization moratorium on digital goods tariffs through 2026.
Additionally, other countries might retaliate with their own tariffs on American films.
However, the Trump administration appears determined to overcome these obstacles to restore America’s entertainment leadership.
