U.S President Donald Trump has once again set his sights on international trade, this time targeting the global film industry.
In a post shared Monday on his Truth Social platform, Trump proposed a 100% tariff on all movies produced outside the United States, arguing that the American film industry has been unfairly “stripped” by foreign competition.
“It’s like stealing candy from a baby,” Trump wrote, accusing other countries of siphoning off revenue and opportunities from Hollywood.
The announcement follows closely on the heels of a broader tariff agenda, which includes planned duties on branded pharmaceuticals, heavy trucks, and furniture, some as high as 100%.
Trump has said these measures are aimed at reversing what he views as decades of economic loss for American industries.
Trump singled out California Governor Gavin Newsom, describing him as “weak and incompetent,” and blamed the state’s leadership for contributing to the decline of the U.S film industry.
California, long the heart of global film production, has struggled in recent years with economic setbacks and labor unrest.
“To solve this long-time, never-ending problem,” Trump wrote, “I will be imposing a 100% tariff on any and all movies that are made outside of the United States.”
So far, no specific implementation timeline or detailed policy plan has been released.
It’s also unclear whether television content, which has become a dominant force in the entertainment economy, would fall under this proposed tariff.
This isn’t the first time Trump has floated such a move. In May 2025, he warned that the U.S film industry was “dying a very fast death” and directed the Department of Commerce and U.S Trade Representative to explore a 100% duty on foreign-produced movies.
The impact of such a tariff remains uncertain. While Hollywood still generates significant revenue, more than $279 billion in sales and 2.3 million jobs as of 2022, according to the Motion Picture Association, the sector has faced serious challenges.
The COVID-19 pandemic, changing viewer habits, and a series of labor strikes have slowed recovery efforts.
Trump’s film industry tariff threat is part of a wider economic strategy targeting multiple industries he says have been “hollowed out” by offshoring and unfair trade practices.
Just last Thursday, he announced plans to implement tariffs ranging from 25% to 100% on branded pharmaceuticals, kitchen cabinetry, upholstered furniture and heavy-duty trucks.
He said 100% tariffs would be placed on pharmaceutical companies that fail to manufacture their products within the U.S.
“North Carolina has completely lost its furniture business to China and other countries,” he declared, defending the proposed measures.
