Donald Trump Renews Call for 100 Percent Tariff on Foreign-Made Movies
President Donald Trump has revived his proposal to impose a 100 percent tariff on movies produced outside the United States.
Donald Trump revives his proposal for a 100% tariff on foreign films, citing U.S. job losses, sparking renewed industry pushback.
Trump announced the plan on Truth Social on Monday, Sept. 29, stating that the U.S. film industry has been “stolen” by other countries. He also singled out California, criticizing Governor Gavin Newsom and pointing to the state’s loss of film and television jobs. Trump wrote that the measure would address what he called a “long time, never ending problem.”
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No timeline or enforcement details were provided for the tariff. Trump had first floated the idea in May, but no action followed. The lack of specifics mirrors his earlier statements, which drew widespread criticism from within the entertainment industry.
The U.S. has seen a decline in domestic film and television production jobs, particularly in California. Rising costs and reduced state tax incentives have pushed many projects overseas, where foreign governments offer competitive inducements. Productions also relocate abroad for creative and logistical reasons, including location needs, which would also be affected under Trump’s proposed tariff.
Hollywood leaders and industry observers expressed skepticism during Trump’s initial proposal, citing both feasibility and potential damage to production pipelines. One industry source told CNN at the time that the plan would “represent a virtually complete halt of production,” adding that such a tariff would be too complex to implement and outside presidential jurisdiction.
Trump’s earlier announcement also drew an alternative response from Jon Voight, a longtime supporter and one of his appointed “special ambassadors” to Hollywood. Voight outlined a plan focused on federal tax incentives, revised tax codes, co-production treaties, and subsidies for production infrastructure. He suggested tariffs only under “limited circumstances,” contrasting sharply with Trump’s call for a blanket 100 percent duty. A representative for Voight declined to comment on Trump’s latest statement.
