President Donald Trump has announced a 100% tariff on all foreign-made movies, claiming the U.S. film industry is “dying a very fast death” due to aggressive tax incentives offered by other nations.
Calling it a “national security threat,” Trump posted on Truth Social that the move was necessary to counter what he described as a coordinated international effort to drain American filmmaking. “WE WANT MOVIES MADE IN AMERICA, AGAIN!” he wrote.
The order directs U.S. agencies, including the Department of Commerce, to begin implementing the tariff immediately. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick confirmed on X: “We’re on it.”
While the details remain unclear, the decision has already drawn concern from industry experts. William Reinsch, a former Commerce official, warned that retaliation could be disastrous. “We have a lot more to lose than to gain,” he said.
Hollywood production has declined sharply in the last decade, with FilmLA reporting a 40% drop in Los Angeles-based filming. Rising costs, generous overseas incentives, and natural disasters — including the wildfires in January — have fueled the shift abroad.
In January, Trump appointed actors Jon Voight, Sylvester Stallone, and Mel Gibson to revive the industry. Sunday's announcement appears to be a continuation of that campaign.
Global content production is expected to reach $248 billion in 2025, according to Ampere Analysis — and the U.S. wants a larger share of it back home.
