(Updated with Sen. Schiff tweet) With a swipe at Hollywood North, Donald Trump today officially threw his support behind a federal film and TV tax credit.
“Hollywood is a Complete and Total Disaster!” the former Apprentice host posted Monday after a sit-down with good pal Jon Voight.
“Despite the name, it is getting very little work,” Trump added of the admittedly declining industry that has lost tens of thousands of jobs and production after production to more lucrative locations around the world, including Canada. “There is no incentive to be there, and it is hurting California very badly. Jon, and many others in the Industry, are suggesting we do Federal Tax Incentives in order to Make our Movie and Television Production Business GREAT AGAIN, perhaps GREATER THAN EVER BEFORE! The amount of money spent on Tax Incentives will be made up tenfold by the money pouring into the Treasury’s coffers.”
Trump being Trump, there were no details on how much the incentive would be or how they will be applied. However, as “Hollywood Ambassador” Voight, Spencer Pratt and sworn POTUS foe Sen. Adam Schiff (D-CA) have all advocated at one point or another, the general consenus is the credit should be in the 25% range initially.
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What ex-Emmy nominee Trump was clear on is he wants any incentive for Hollywood to reach across the aisle — at least right now as the midterms loom.
“Meetings are being set up with the Leaders of both Parties in order to get this done,” the MAGA chief said in his Truth Social post. “It should be Bipartisan, especially since so much money is being lost in California, and other largely Blue States.”
Trump added: “I am going to suggest that Republicans and Democrats get together, and immediately craft Legislation to save the Movie, Television, and Entertainment Business in America. Congress should approve, immediately, a Federal Production Incentive to create Entertainment Jobs in America. It can be done quickly, accurately, efficiently and, importantly, will benefit ALL of America. What we watch on the Silver Screen should be made in what was once the Movie and Motion Picture Capital of the World. Let’s get this done!”
In a land speed record for the Motion Picture Association, CEO Charles Rivkin was quick with a statement backing the incentive move.
“For over a century, American studios, casts, and crews have produced the films and series that the world wants to see,” the studio and streamer lobbyist boss said. “A federal incentive would be a landmark step toward bringing more production to local communities in all 50 states, strengthening our nation’s economy, and making our country a more competitive place to produce, create, and tell great stories. We applaud President Trump’s support for this vital action, and we look forward to continuing to work with the White House and bipartisan leaders in Congress to enact a meaningful and effective national incentive into law.”
As well as the MPA, failed L.A. mayoral candidate Pratt, Enemy of the State star Voight and Democrat Schiff, SAG-AFTRA, the DGA, the WGA, studio execs and various industry lobby groups have all said they are in favor of the feds stepping in with a national program.
In words likely never considered before by the ex-Trump Impeachment manager, Schiff wrote on the former Twitter today: “I am in strong agreement with the President. Congress should immediately take up and pass a federal film tax incentive to bring back these good-paying jobs that we’ve lost to other countries.”
Outgoing California Gov, Gavin Newsom, who more than doubled the Golden State’s own credits program to $750 million last year, is also on Team Trump on this one. Democrat Xavier Berraca and Republican Steve Hilton have both gotten behind a stronger approach to California’s film and TV incentives in their respective gubernatorial campaigns.
Then again, being that Vought has been pushing his buddy POTUS to back a federal incentive since May 2025 to little success until today, let’s see what the follow through here really is before anyone starts planning the parade.
Monday’s move by Trump comes as a post-production incentive passed the California state Senate on August 30 to head to Newsom’s desk for his signature. Also, a compromise to carve out entertainment designated tax credits from a capping passed into law earlier this year looks to be heading to a vote tonight in the last hours of legislative action for this year’s session in Sacramento.
