In a bold declaration made via Truth Social on Monday, September 29, 2025, U.S. President Donald Trump announced a monumental 100% tariff on all movies produced outside the United States. This move is set to drastically reshape the global film industry.
President Trump articulated his reasoning in strong terms, stating, “Our movie making business has been stolen from the United States of America, by other Countries, just like stealing ‘candy from a baby’.” This statement underscores his belief that foreign competition has unfairly impacted American film production.
The announcement wasn’t entirely without precedent. Mr. Trump had hinted at the possibility of imposing such levies back in May, though those earlier threats lacked specific details. This ambiguity had left many entertainment industry executives in a state of uncertainty, which has now intensified.
The immediate fallout from the President’s declaration was visible in pre-market trading, where shares of major entertainment companies like Netflix and Warner Bros Discovery experienced declines of 1.4% and 0.6%, respectively, reflecting investor apprehension about the tariffs’ potential impact.