Trump Moves to Impose 100% Tariff on Foreign-Made Films Amid Concerns Over Hollywood’s Decline

President Donald J. Trump on Sunday evening announced his administration’s plan to impose a sweeping 100% tariff on all movies produced outside the United States, citing what he called a “national security threat” posed by foreign incentives luring American filmmakers abroad.

In a post shared on his Truth Social platform, the president declared the American movie industry to be “dying a very fast death,” blaming international competitors for offering financial perks to attract U.S. talent and studios. “Hollywood, and many other areas within the U.S.A., are being devastated,” Trump wrote. “This is a concerted effort by other Nations and, therefore, a National Security threat.”

The president directed the Department of Commerce and the U.S. Trade Representative to initiate the new tariff policy immediately, aiming to penalize all foreign-made films that enter the American market. The post did not specify whether the tariff would apply to streaming platforms or independent foreign productions.

Trump framed the move as a counteroffensive to what he characterized as a coordinated effort to undermine U.S. cultural influence and economic stability. “It is, in addition to everything else, messaging and propaganda!” he wrote.

The announcement signals a sharp escalation in the administration’s protectionist trade agenda, expanding it from goods and manufacturing into the entertainment sector—a domain that has long been both an economic driver and a vehicle for soft power abroad.

Industry leaders and analysts have yet to respond publicly to the proposed policy. However, some trade experts warn that such a tariff could invite retaliation from key allies and disrupt longstanding international co-productions, potentially raising costs for American studios that often rely on overseas filming to reduce budgets.

This move follows a broader pattern in Trump’s second term of emphasizing domestic self-reliance in industries ranging from technology to infrastructure. With Hollywood already struggling through labor unrest and post-pandemic disruptions, a new tariff regime could further reshape the global entertainment landscape.

The president ended his statement with a familiar slogan: “WE WANT MOVIES MADE IN AMERICA, AGAIN!”