“Movies Must Be Made in America”: Trump Targets Foreign Film Studios

US President Donald Trump has declared his intention to impose a 100% tariff on all films produced outside the United States, claiming that overseas film production is crippling the American movie industry. The move, announced on his Truth Social platform, is part of his broader push to revitalise domestic filmmaking.

Trump framed the decision as necessary for national security, arguing that Hollywood is losing ground as international locations attract American studios with generous incentives. “We want movies made in America, again!” he posted, ordering the Department of Commerce and the US Trade Representative to take immediate action.

Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick responded by reposting Trump’s statement, saying, “We’re on it.” However, no timeline or implementation strategy was provided.

Trump’s proposal follows recent decisions by countries like China to reduce the number of US films allowed into their markets. It also comes amid broader criticism of his aggressive trade policies, which have seen tariffs levied across various global industries.

“The movie industry in America is dying a very fast death,” Trump wrote. “Other countries are offering all sorts of incentives to draw our filmmakers and studios away from the United States.” He added that losing production to foreign countries posed a national security risk and was devastating areas like Hollywood.

While Trump did not clarify whether TV series would also be affected, his comments raised questions about the practical impact on both imports and US-based production companies working abroad.

The American film industry remains a cornerstone of the economy, generating $279 billion in sales and supporting over 2.3 million jobs in 2022, according to the Motion Picture Association. However, the industry continues to face challenges following the COVID-19 pandemic and recent Hollywood strikes.

A recent report by ProdPro revealed that US film production spending fell by 26% in two years, with executives now favouring international locations. The top five filming destinations for 2025 and 2026 include Toronto, the UK, Vancouver, Central Europe, and Australia — with California ranking only sixth.

Trump has long struggled to gain support from the entertainment industry. Ahead of his 2025 inauguration, he named Sylvester Stallone, Mel Gibson, and Jon Voight as special envoys to Hollywood. He vowed they would help make the industry “stronger than ever before.”

The entertainment sector remains largely aligned with the Democratic Party, with stars like Taylor Swift and George Clooney endorsing Kamala Harris in the 2024 presidential race.

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Sourced:African Insider

Picture: Chris Kleponis/CNP/Bloomberg