US President Donald Trump has announced a sweeping 100% tariff on all films produced outside the United States, asserting that foreign tax incentives are undermining the American movie industry and threatening national security.
“The American film industry is dying a very fast death,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform Sunday night. “This is a concerted effort by other nations and, therefore, a national security threat. It is, in addition to everything else, messaging and propaganda.”
Trump said he has ordered the Department of Commerce and other federal agencies to immediately begin enforcing the new tariffs. “We want movies made in America, again!” he added in capital letters.
Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick confirmed the directive on X (formerly Twitter), saying simply, “We’re on it.” However, neither the president nor Lutnick provided specifics on how the tariffs will be calculated or implemented.
The announcement sent shockwaves through the entertainment industry, with studio executives racing to determine whether the tariff will affect both theatrical releases and streaming content, and whether it would be based on production costs, box office revenue, or other criteria.
The Motion Picture Association, which represents major Hollywood studios, has so far declined to comment.
The move follows Trump’s broader campaign to revive domestic filmmaking. In January, he appointed actors Jon Voight, Sylvester Stallone, and Mel Gibson to lead an initiative aimed at bringing film production back to US soil.
Hollywood has increasingly outsourced production to countries offering attractive financial incentives, including tax credits and cash rebates. According to Ampere Analysis, global spending on film and television content is expected to reach $248 billion in 2025, with a growing share being captured by foreign markets.
It remains unclear how international partners and industry stakeholders will respond to the new policy, which marks one of the most aggressive protectionist moves targeting entertainment under Trump’s administration.
