Donald Trump has declared that the American movie industry is “dying a very fast death” and announced a bombshell plan to impose 100% tariffs on foreign-made films.
The US President issued a strongly worded statement warning that other countries are luring filmmakers away from the United States with lucrative incentives, leaving Hollywood and the wider American film industry in crisis.
Labeling the situation a “national security threat”, Mr Trump said: “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 U.S.A., are being devastated.”
He claimed the coordinated effort by rival nations is not just economic, but also “messaging and propaganda,” arguing that the US must take immediate action to protect its domestic film industry.
In a dramatic move, Mr Trump authorised the Department of Commerce and the United States Trade Representative to begin “the process of instituting a 100% Tariff on any and all Movies coming into our Country that are produced in Foreign Lands.”
He added: “WE WANT MOVIES MADE IN AMERICA, AGAIN!”
The announcement marks one of Mr Trump’s most forceful interventions yet in the entertainment sector, as he continues to frame global competition in cultural and security terms.
Hollywood has long been considered a soft power asset for the United States, but the industry has recently struggled with rising production costs, global competition, and changing viewer habits.
Mr Trump’s warning is likely to spark fierce debate in the entertainment world, with critics arguing that protectionist tariffs could drive up costs for consumers and complicate international collaborations.
However, supporters say the move could reignite investment in US-based productions and restore the country’s status as a world leader in cinema.
In recent years, Hollywood has struggled with rising production costs, global competition, and changing viewer habits. Entertainment production in Los Angeles has fallen by almost 40% over the last 10 years, according to FilmLA, a non-profit that tracks the region’s production.
All major media companies, including Walt Disney, Netflix, and Universal Pictures, all film overseas in countries such as the UK and Canada.
The UK film industry is experiencing a boom, fueled by Hollywood investment and its own thriving domestic sector. Spending reached £5.6 billion in 2024, and Hollywood-backed projects now account for 87% of total production spending on movies in the UK.
The announcement from Trump comes after he triggered a trade war with China while the UK was hit with a blanket 10% tariff on nearly all of its goods brought into the US.
