Trump Vows 100% Tariff on Foreign Movies, Says Hollywood Is Being “Stolen”

US President Donald Trump, now serving his second term in office, on Monday renewed his threat to impose sweeping tariffs on foreign-made films, accusing international competitors of undermining Hollywood and “stealing” America’s entertainment industry.

The latest declaration, made in a Truth Social post, came just days after Trump threatened steep duties on branded pharmaceuticals, furniture, and heavy trucks, with tariffs ranging from 25% to 100%.

“In order to solve this long time, never ending problem, I will be imposing a 100% tariff on any and all movies that are made outside of the United States,” Trump wrote, likening the alleged industry decline to “stealing candy from a baby.”

Trump singled out California Governor Gavin Newsom, describing him as “weak and incompetent,” while arguing that the state has been among the hardest hit by the shift in global film production.

The president first floated the idea in May, when he warned that the American movie industry was “dying a very fast death.” At the time, he said he had directed the Department of Commerce and the US Trade Representative to explore the imposition of 100% tariffs on imported films.

While Trump did not specify when or how the new tariffs would be enforced, industry experts say the move could send shockwaves through the global entertainment sector.

Hollywood remains a cornerstone of the US economy, employing more than 2.3 million people and generating $279 billion in sales in 2022, according to the Motion Picture Association. However, the industry continues to recover from the twin blows of the COVID-19 pandemic and the 2023 strikes, which reshaped viewing habits and drove more audiences toward at-home streaming rather than traditional theaters.

Notably, Trump’s post did not clarify whether foreign-made television series—now a lucrative and rapidly expanding segment—would also be subject to the proposed tariffs.

Last week, he reiterated his plans for tariffs on imported furniture, pharmaceuticals, and trucks, stressing that North Carolina had “completely lost its furniture business to China, and other Countries.”