It seems that not even the film industry can escape Donald Trump's tariffs as he announced a 100% tariff will be slapped on movies that are made outside the United States and then being brought into the country.
The move may be an effort to counter the incentives that other countries are providing filmmakers in order to produce their movies abroad.
"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 in a post on Truth Social, according to a report by Reuters.
Trump added, "WE WANT MOVIES MADE IN AMERICA, AGAIN!"
Trump Claims Hollywood Is 'Dying'
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…
— Donald J. Trump Posts From His Truth Social (@TrumpDailyPosts) May 4, 2025
The US President even declared that "The Movie Industry in America is DYING a very fast death."
According to his post, he is authorizing related government agencies, including the Department of Commerce, to swiftly act on the 100% tariff.
In response, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said that the department is "on it."
Social Media Reacts to Trump's Claims
Unsurprisingly, there are those that are supportive of Trump's new tariff, while there are many on social media who are unhappy it, particularly his "national security threat" claims.
Here are some of the reactions found on X:
A tariff is a tax. Economics predicts three direct results.
— Theory of the Dog (@TheoryoftheDog) May 5, 2025
1. Higher prices and less choice. A 100 % duty doubles the cost of every foreign film. Distributors either pay and raise ticket or streaming prices, or they stop importing. Consumers lose variety; the new tax…
I suppose at least now we can officially say that James Bond has been declared a national security threat.
— dan barker (@danbarker) May 4, 2025
So… idk where to draw the line as to what qualifies as a threat to national security, but I kinda feel like this ain’t it?
— Lance Breitstein 🇺🇸🌎 (@TheOneLanceB) May 4, 2025
Trump finding a way to rule via executive order, circumventing the checks & balances we need right now.
Apart from tariffs, can't you think of anything else?
— 平沙落雁（互fo） (@weitao01180521) May 5, 2025
So now movies are a “national security threat”? Please. The real threat to American cinema isn’t foreign films rather its greed, creative stagnation and runaway consolidation. Hollywood isn’t dying because of other countries it’s being gutted from within by execs more obsessed…
— Jason (@devlij1) May 5, 2025
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