Trump Pushes for 100% Tariff on Overseas Films

Stepping outside the White House on Sunday evening, President Donald Trump made his stance crystal clear—he thinks the film industry is under assault from individuals abroad, and he isn’t pleased about it. plan to prevent that from occurring.

The President stated, “Hollywood is deteriorating. Currently, there’s an extremely inept governor who has permitted this decline,” referring to California Governor Gavin Newsom. “While I’m not solely holding accountable foreign countries, many of them have pilfered our film industry. Therefore, if these countries aren’t keen on producing movies within the U.S., we ought to impose tariffs on imported films.”

Trump restated that in a tweet. Truth Social Sunday.

"The film industry in America is facing an extremely rapid decline," Trump stated.

"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," the post continues.

That 100% tariff absolutely does have entertainment industry uneasy , and has those who teach about film wondering how this would be implemented.

"My first reaction was let's see what happens in 48 hours," Peter Gregg, Chair of the Department of Emerging Media at the University of St Thomas , said.

That pause comes from how a tariff on a film would work, Gregg says.

"I think there are a lot of questions about what it means to produce something outside of the United States," he said. "Does that mean it's the money? Does that mean it's where the production takes place? Is it where the post production takes place? Is it the company that owns the companies that make the film? So there are just a lot of question marks and a lot of uncertainty."

In his conversation with journalists at the White House on Sunday, a reporter inquired whether this matter would be addressed with Canada on Monday.

The President replied, 'Well, Canada is just one of numerous nations.'

Canada has become a popular filming destination for a multitude of reasons, Gregg says.

"They offer particular tax incentives to produce the content there, and they have a robust enough production crew environment that it can sort of be the best of both worlds in terms of cost and having people in the area to be able to help," Gregg said.

Gregg expresses concern over the uncertainty created by this situation. On Monday, the White House informed NBC that "no definitive choices" have been finalized yet and they are still "considering every possibility."

"It disincentivizes the making of a movie, period, as opposed to saying, 'Oh, you know what? We should be producing this film in California, or we should be producing this film in Minnesota,'" Gregg said "Just says it's going to cost too much. Let's not do it. It's not worth the risk."

Explore Minnesota Film offers tax incentives for productions that employ Minnesotans and promote the state, according to its website. An assignable 25% income tax credit is provided to production companies that expend at least $1 million in a consecutive 12-month period for eligible production costs, that website reads.

"We believe in the power of competitive incentives, and our newly established film office continues to evaluate and evolve Minnesota’s programs to meet the needs of today’s filmmakers and studios. Our focus remains on expanding opportunity, expanding Minnesota’s momentum as a filming destination, and contributing positively to the broader film and television ecosystem—as well as Minnesota’s economy," Lauren Bennett McGinty, Executive Director of Explore Minnesota, said, in part, in a statement.