President Donald Trump on Monday called for bipartisan tax incentives to support the domestic television and movie industry, which has seen significant production move overseas in recent years. In a post on Truth Social, Trump announced that meetings were being arranged with leaders from both parties to advance the initiative.
Trump emphasized the need for a bipartisan approach, noting that substantial revenue is being lost in California and other predominantly Democratic states. He urged Republicans and Democrats to collaborate on legislation to “save the Movie, Television, and Entertainment Business in America.”
Trump's Hollywood Connection and Policy Influence
The president indicated that his push to assist Hollywood—an industry often criticized by Republicans and based in solidly blue California—was partly shaped by actor Jon Voight, who served as a campaign surrogate for Trump in 2024. Voight, whom Trump has called his “Hollywood ambassador,” has been instrumental in guiding the administration’s entertainment industry policy during Trump’s second term. In May 2025, Trump met with Voight before proposing tariffs on films produced overseas. Voight did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Monday night.
Democratic Support for the Proposal
Trump’s Truth Social post drew immediate backing from Democrats who are typically critical of him and his administration. Senator Adam Schiff of California, a frequent Trump target, expressed “strong agreement” with the president on this issue. Schiff wrote on X that Congress should promptly pass a federal film tax incentive to bring back well-paying jobs lost to other countries, urging bipartisan cooperation to “bring the movie magic back to America.”
Representative Laura Friedman of California also praised the proposed measure and called for swift action. Friedman noted that she had been working with Jon Voight, congressional colleagues, unions, studios, and producers for over a year to build support for a national film and television tax credit. She argued that there is no reason for Canada, the UK, or Australia to take American jobs, emphasizing that the U.S. still has the best crews in the world and should make it possible for them to stay in America.
Friedman had previously stated in September that the proposed tariffs on foreign films were an acknowledgment by Trump that the U.S. was losing its domestic film and TV industry, but she believed a tax credit, not tariffs, was the right solution.
Industry Reaction
The announcement was also welcomed by the entertainment industry. Charles Rivkin, CEO of the Motion Association, which represents major U.S. film studios, issued a statement applauding Trump’s support for tax incentives. Rivkin highlighted that American studios, casts, and crews have produced the world’s most-wanted films and series for over a century. He called a federal incentive a “landmark step” toward increasing production in local communities across all 50 states, strengthening the economy, and enhancing the nation’s competitiveness in storytelling and production.
While Trump did not provide specific financial details in his post, he predicted that the cost of the tax incentives would be “made up tenfold” by increased revenue flowing into the Treasury.
