Following the bombshell announcement made by Donald Trump earlier this week stating he would be athorising 100 per cent tariffs on films made outside the US, the president seems to have softened his plans. Maybe.
Trump previously wrote that: “The Movie Industry in America is DYING a very fast death. 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!”
Now, Trump is seemingly softening his approach, saying at The White House: “I’m not looking to hurt the industry, I want to help the industry. So we’re going to meet with the industry. I want to make sure they’re happy with it because we’re all about jobs.”
As per CNBC, Kush Desai, White House Deputy Press Secretary, told press that “no final decision on foreign film tariffs have been made.” Desai added: “The Administration is exploring all options to deliver on President Trump’s directive to safeguard our country’s national and economic security while Making Hollywood Great Again.”
It was also revealed that Trump’s decision to impose 100 per cent tariffs on films shot outside of the US comes after he was pitched the idea by actor Jon Voight – one of Trump’s newly appointed ambassadors to Hollywood.
“By creating the right environment through smart incentives, updated policies, and much-needed support, we can ensure that American production companies thrive, more jobs stay here at home, and Hollywood once again leads the world in creativity and innovation,” Voight said in a statement.
Voight and his manager Steven Paul reportedly submitted a “comprehensive plan” detailing what “changes need to be made to increase domestic film production.”
These plans have not yet been made public, and it remains unknown whether Trump’s tariff plan only applies to foreign films, or if it will include US productions that are partially filmed overseas.
Trump also took aim – once again – at California state governor Gavin Newsom, saying the film industry “has been decimated by other countries taking them out, and also by incompetence, like in Los Angeles, the governor is a grossly incompetent man, he’s just allowed it to be taken away from”.
Trump added: “Hollywood doesn’t do very much of that business, they have the nice sign, and everything’s good, but they don’t do very much.”
Newsom’s office responded with a statement saying: “Governor Newsom continues to champion California’s iconic film and television industry – recognising it as a cornerstone of the state’s economy, one that sustains hundreds of thousands of good-paying jobs across every sector around the state.”
The statement went on to say: “(Newsom’s) plan to more than double the state’s film and television tax credit reflects a commitment to keeping production here at home, supporting workers and maintaining California’s global leadership in entertainment. If the President announces a proposal with more details, we will review it.”
In the meantime, there are more questions than clear answers regarding these tariffs. Will they actually happen? Will streaming services be impacted? Are production plans at risk of being stalled?
Confusion reigns as Trump damages through muddied threats the very industry he claims to be supporting… Until he loses focus and moves on to another confused tariff plan.
Additional sources • CNBC