Politics
Trump Shocks ‘Dying’ Hollywood With Tariff Plan to Save American Movies
For decades, Hollywood has symbolized American culture and creativity—but in the eyes of President Donald Trump, the industry is now on life support.
In a statement posted to Truth Social, Trump declared the American movie industry “DYING a very fast death,” blaming foreign nations for luring away studios with attractive incentives and accusing global competitors of launching a “messaging and propaganda” campaign against the United States.
“I am authorizing the Department of Commerce, and the United States Trade Representative, to immediately begin the process of instituting a 100% Tariff on any and all Movies coming into our Country that are produced in Foreign Lands,” Trump wrote. “WE WANT MOVIES MADE IN AMERICA, AGAIN!”
The announcement stunned many in the entertainment world, particularly as Hollywood continues to recover from dual strikes by actors and writers. According to Trump, this isn’t just about the economy—it’s about national security. “Hollywood, and many other areas within the U.S.A., are being devastated,” he wrote. “This is a concerted effort by other Nations and, therefore, a National Security threat.”
via Truth Social
U.S. movies are made overseas very frequently, and the practice has only grown over the past two decades. Even major Hollywood blockbusters are often filmed abroad, driven by a combination of lower production costs, attractive tax incentives, and unique international locations. Countries like Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, and New Zealand have become top destinations for U.S. studios thanks to government-backed incentives that reduce the cost of filming.
Canada’s Vancouver and Toronto are so widely used they’re often referred to as “Hollywood North.” The U.K. hosts numerous productions at studios like Pinewood, where parts of Star Wars and Marvel films have been shot. Eastern Europe, South Africa, and parts of Asia are also popular for offering cheap labor and versatile landscapes.
Even films that appear to be quintessentially American are often made abroad. The Mission: Impossible and James Bond franchises frequently shoot across Europe and Asia, while Marvel blockbusters like Avengers: Endgame have scenes filmed in places like Scotland and the Philippines. Batman Begins used Iceland for several of its sequences. In many cases, foreign locations double as American cities or fictional worlds, saving studios millions while maintaining production quality.
Los Angeles, California, USA – July 29, 2023: The Donald Trump star at the Hollywood Walk of Fame stars in Los Angeles.
The trend has turned overseas filmmaking into a standard part of the industry. Trump’s proposed tariff plan directly targets this shift, aiming to reverse decades of outsourcing by making it more expensive to distribute foreign-produced films in the U.S. The move is part of an America First strategy that seeks to bring more film production back onto U.S. soil.
The proposed tariff would effectively double the cost of importing any film made overseas, potentially gutting foreign studio profits and rerouting business back to American soil. But the entertainment industry wasn’t the only target of Trump’s recent wave of executive actions. Trump has dominated headlines with a flurry of moves aimed at reshaping America’s domestic and foreign policy.
President Trump’s push for sweeping tariffs marks a renewed and aggressive approach to U.S. trade policy in his second term. While the proposed 100% tariff on foreign-made films grabbed headlines for its cultural implications, it’s just one piece of an economic strategy aimed at reshaping America’s role in global trade.
As for Hollywood, the message is unmistakable: make movies in America, or pay the price.
