The former President of the United States, Donald Trump, announced on Sunday his plans to impose a 100% tax on all films produced outside the U.S. He criticized the increasing trend of filmmakers choosing to produce films internationally, which he claims is causing America’s film industry to “collapse.”
Trump made the announcement through his social media platform, Truth Social, and stated that he had instructed the Department of Commerce and Industry to take immediate action. He said, “I have directed the Department of Commerce and Industry to swiftly impose a 100% tax on all incoming films made in other countries.”
He emphasized that America’s film industry is “dying very quickly,” blaming lucrative incentives offered by other countries, which are attracting filmmakers and production companies away from the U.S.
Describing the situation as a major national security threat, Trump claimed, “This is a deliberate scheme by other nations that propagates discriminatory and misleading ideologies.”
Despite the announcement, Trump did not share details regarding the implementation of this tax plan. The news comes amid ongoing criticism of his administration’s trade policies, which saw the introduction of heavy tariffs targeting multiple countries. Recently, China — one of the nations impacted by these policies — announced its decision to reduce the number of Hollywood films it imports.
Although the U.S. remains a dominant force in the global film industry, a recent study conducted in January revealed that the top five preferred destinations for film production in 2025 and 2026 are all outside the U.S. These destinations include Toronto (Canada), the United Kingdom, Vancouver (Canada), Central Europe, and Australia. California was ranked sixth.
Bolstering his efforts to revive America’s film sector, Trump appointed Hollywood veterans Sylvester Stallone, Mel Gibson, and Jon Voight as special envoys to the industry. He expressed confidence that they would help elevate the film sector “to unprecedented levels.”
Reports suggest Trump and his Republican supporters have faced challenges in garnering financial backing from many Hollywood celebrities. Prominent figures like Taylor Swift and George Clooney notably supported Democrat Kamala Harris during the 2024 presidential election.
Donald Trump’s plans to implement a 100% tax on films produced outside the U.S. aim to counter what he calls global competition threatening the survival of American cinema.