Trump Orders 100% Tariffs On Foreign Movies (image-instagram/potus)
Washington: Continuing its series of tariff measures, Donald Trump on Sunday announced plans to impose tariffs on foreign films, citing a threat to the U.S. movie industry and national security. Trump, in his social media post on Sunday, has directed the Department of Commerce and the U.S. Trade Representative to immediately begin the process of tariffs on “any and all” films produced in “foreign lands.”
“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,” Trump said on his Truth Social platform.
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When asked by reporters about the tariff on Sunday, Trump claimed that the U.S. was making “very few movies now.” “WE WANT MOVIES MADE IN AMERICA, AGAIN!” he said.
On the other hand, Trump has not elaborated on how the tariff would work in practical terms, including whether it would be applicable to Hollywood features that involve shooting and production across multiple countries. The decision came at a time when Trump had appointed actors Sylvester Stallone, Mel Gibson, and Jon Voight as “special ambassadors” in January, tasking them to bring back to Hollywood the business which is lost to other countries. He had said at that time that the actors would be his “eyes and ears” as he set about instituting a “Golden Age of Hollywood.”
Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Hollywood had faced tough business conditions. And according to Grower Street Analysis, Hollywood studios grossed about $30 billion worldwide last year. Though last year’s performance had improved its revenue compared to 2020, 2021, and 2022, it was still about 20% below the pre-pandemic average.
Backlash Over Trump’s AI Image as Pope
Just days after expressing his interest in becoming the next Pope while speaking to reporters, the U.S. President posted an AI-generated image of himself as the Pope on social media. Trump, who is neither Catholic nor attends church regularly, had posted the image on his Truth Social platform late Friday. The White House had reposted the same image on its official X account.
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The image, which showed the U.S. President seated in an ornate chair, dressed in white papal vestments and headdress, with his forefinger raised, had drawn instant outrage on X, including from Republicans. The group had reposted the image, calling it “a blatant insult to Catholics and a mockery of their faith.”
Many came forward with strong criticism of the image, stating that it was offensive to believers and disrespectful to the institution.
