Trump Wants to Hit Foreign Films With a 100% Tariff (Again)

Donald Trump is once again calling for a 100% tariff on movies made outside the United States. He says the idea would protect American filmmakers and stop other countries from taking away U.S. productions.

“Our movie making business has been stolen from the United States of America, by other Countries, just like stealing ‘candy from a baby.’”

Trump first raised this plan earlier this year and brought it up again in recent days. On his Truth Social account in May, he claimed he had already asked the Department of Commerce and the U.S. Trade Representative to start working on it.

“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 U.S.A., 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!”

Speaking to C-SPAN, Trump went further. He argued that foreign governments and California governor Gavin Newsom were both responsible for damaging Hollywood.

“What they’ve done is other nations have been stealing the movies, the moviemaking capabilities from the United States,” Trump said. “I’ve done some very strong research over the past week and we’re making very few movies now. Hollywood is being destroyed. Now, you have a … grossly incompetent governor that allowed that to happen, so I’m not just blaming other nations, but other nations have stolen our movie industry.”

He also warned that studios relying on overseas locations should face financial penalties. “If they’re not willing to make a movie inside the United States, then we should have a tariff on movies that come in,” Trump said. “And not only that, governments are actually giving big money. They’re supporting them financially. That’s sort of a threat to our country in a sense.”

For years, major Hollywood films have been shot in places like the U.K., Ireland, Australia, and Spain because of tax breaks that lower costs. Smaller projects often head to cheaper filming hubs such as Romania or Bulgaria. Canada, especially Vancouver, has also been a popular choice for both films and television.

Industry figures are already raising concerns about Trump’s idea. One executive said the policy would shut down filming in Canada altogether.

Governor Newsom’s office dismissed Trump’s claims. In a short response, a spokesperson said: “Looks like it’s distraction day again in Washington, D.C.”

Trump argues the tariffs would revive the U.S. movie business and bring jobs back. Critics warn it could backfire, raising costs and limiting where films and shows can be made.

Trump clearly sees this as a way to boost the American movie industry, but such a big tariff might cause more problems than it solves. Hollywood is global now, and shutting it off from other countries could hurt both studios and audiences. What do you think? Would this plan really protect U.S. filmmaking, or would it make things worse? Share your thoughts in the comments.