US president Trump calls for 100% tariff on foreign films, cites threat to Hollywood

US President Donald Trump has vowed to impose a 100% tariff on all foreign-produced films, citing what he calls a deliberate international effort to undermine Hollywood and spread propaganda through cinema.

Trump made the announcement on Truth Social, painting a dire picture of the state of the American film industry.

“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. Hollywood, and many other areas within the USA, 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!”

Declaring the situation a threat to national security, Trump said, “Therefore, 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. WE WANT MOVIES MADE IN AMERICA, AGAIN!”

Foreign governments have long used generous tax breaks and regulatory perks to lure film productions to cities like Dublin and Toronto, a trend that Trump argues has hollowed out the domestic film sector.

In response, some US states, such as California, are already pushing new incentives—Governor Gavin Newsom recently introduced a tax credit proposal to boost local production.

The backdrop to Trump’s announcement is an industry already reeling from a slump in theater attendance, compounded by the shift to streaming and a post-pandemic production slowdown.

This latest move adds fuel to Trump’s escalating trade confrontations. His administration has already imposed sweeping tariffs on Chinese goods—some as high as 145%—prompting Beijing to retaliate with steep duties of its own, triggering a broader trade war.

The economic impact has been swift. US GDP shrank by 0.3% in early 2025, with consumer spending and imports plunging.

Shipping volumes from China dropped dramatically, forcing freight companies to cancel numerous sailings and hitting ports like Los Angeles with steep declines.

Critics argue that Trump’s trade decisions are contributing to mounting economic instability. “All of it,” said economist Brian Bethune when asked how much of the downturn was tied to Trump’s actions.

International partners, meanwhile, voice growing frustration over mixed messages from Washington.

“There’s not a coherent strategy,” noted Josh Lipsky of the Atlantic Council. “They don’t understand completely what the White House wants, nor who they should be negotiating with.”