Trump Drops Economic Hammer on Celebrities Who Fled to the UK

Some of President Donald Trump’s new tariff policies may take time to show results—but one of them is already hitting exactly where Trump supporters hoped: the Hollywood elite who left the country to protest him.

On Sunday, President Trump used his Truth Social platform to announce a dramatic move: a 100% tariff on all foreign-produced films entering the U.S., with particular focus on the United Kingdom, which has become a popular filming destination due to generous government incentives.

“The Movie Industry in America is DYING a very fast death. 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 posted.

He continued by declaring the situation a “National Security threat” due to foreign "messaging and propaganda," and ended with a familiar rallying cry:

“WE WANT MOVIES MADE IN AMERICA, AGAIN!”

While calling this issue a national security threat might sound exaggerated to some, it fits within Trump’s broader framework: if vital industries—like manufacturing, or in this case, entertainment—are hollowed out and sent overseas, that puts America at a disadvantage.

This new tariff is aimed at counteracting the impact of foreign tax incentives that have lured film production out of the U.S. and into countries like the UK. Since 2007, the British government has offered substantial tax relief to filmmakers, with those perks extended to high-end TV in 2012. The result has been a booming film industry across the Atlantic.

A 2023 interview with Tax Watch's Alex Dunnagan on Marketplace laid out just how much the UK has offered to attract movie productions:

“There are positives in that more films are being made in the U.K. as a result of the relief,” Dunnagan said. “But it comes with a cost.”

He detailed the amounts received in tax breaks by major blockbusters:

“‘Quantum of Solace’ receiving 21 million pounds in tax relief. ‘Skyfall,’ 24 million pounds… ‘Spectre,’ 30 million… and most recently, ‘No Time To Die,’ 47 million pounds.”

While critics argue that these numbers represent lost tax revenue, supporters point out that such projects likely wouldn’t have been made in the UK without the incentives.

The British Film Institute supplements this ecosystem with some direct funding, but it’s the tax breaks that serve as the engine for the UK’s rapid rise as a film production hub.

One example: Jurassic World: Rebirth, billed by The Guardian as the “most expensive movie ever made,” reportedly received over £89 million in reimbursements for choosing to film in Britain.

President Trump’s new tariff essentially puts the brakes on this overseas momentum—especially for U.S.-based studios and celebrities who have chosen to work abroad rather than at home.

And the move might be personal.

Several high-profile celebrities publicly vowed to leave the U.S. during Trump’s rise and relocated to the UK. With this new tariff, Trump is sending a clear message: if you turn your back on American workers and American industries, there will be a price to pay.

As with his past economic moves, this one is designed not just to penalize foreign incentive systems but to restore and protect American dominance in a key industry.

Trump’s real goal, as always, is to force everyone to think twice before choosing somewhere else over the United States.