President Donald Trump is throwing his support behind a nationwide tax incentive for film and television production, calling on Republicans and Democrats in Congress to work together to bring entertainment jobs back to the U.S.
Trump announced the push Monday after meeting with actor Jon Voight, one of his special ambassadors to Hollywood, arguing that film and television production has increasingly moved to foreign countries.
In a lengthy Truth Social post, Trump described Hollywood as a “Complete and Total Disaster” and said Voight and other industry figures have urged him to support federal tax incentives for productions made domestically.
“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,” Trump wrote.
“Congress should approve, immediately, a Federal Production Incentive to create Entertainment Jobs in America,” he added.
Trump argued that Hollywood has lost significant production work to Canada and other countries offering incentives to filmmakers, leaving California particularly vulnerable to the industry’s changing economics.
“What we watch on the Silver Screen should be made in what was once the Movie and Motion Picture Capital of the World,” Trump wrote. “Let’s get this done!”
The proposal marks a significant endorsement for an idea that has attracted support from figures across the political spectrum.
Voight, 87, has emerged as one of the most prominent advocates for federal incentives aimed at encouraging studios to keep productions in the US.
Trump appointed Voight, Sylvester Stallone and Mel Gibson as special Hollywood ambassadors in January 2025 as part of an effort to address problems facing the American entertainment industry.
Voight and industry allies have since worked with entertainment organizations and labor groups while pushing the administration to back a national incentive.
The effort has also produced an unusual area of agreement between Trump allies and California Sen. Adam Schiff (D), one of the president’s longtime political adversaries.
Schiff has advocated for his own national production incentive and held a Senate hearing in March addressing the movement of American film and television productions overseas.
According to Variety, Schiff previously circulated a proposal that would provide a 15% federal credit for qualifying labor expenses on productions made in the US.
A separate proposal backed by SP Media Group CEO Steven Paul, who represents Voight, and company President Scott Karol would establish a 20% federal tax credit for qualifying domestic production labor costs, according to Reuters.
Trump did not specify Monday exactly what percentage he wants Congress to adopt.
Instead, the president focused on the broader economic argument, predicting that additional entertainment production would generate substantially more federal revenue than the government would forgo through the incentive.
“The amount of money spent on Tax Incentives will be made up tenfold by the money pouring into the Treasury’s coffers,” Trump said.
Trump also said meetings were being arranged with leaders from both parties, arguing that the proposal should attract bipartisan support because California and other Democratic-leaning states have been particularly affected by production losses.
The president’s endorsement drew immediate praise from the Motion Picture Association.
Motion Picture Association Chairman and CEO Charles Rivkin said the organization welcomed Trump’s backing and would work with the administration and lawmakers from both parties to advance a national incentive.
“We applaud President Trump’s support for this vital action,” Rivkin said, according to the New York Post.
Trump’s push comes as the American entertainment industry continues competing with countries such as Canada and the United Kingdom, where production incentives have helped attract major film and television projects.
A national incentive could operate alongside existing state programs. Thirty-eight states currently offer their own production tax-credit programs, according to Axios.
The proposal would still have to clear Congress, and the exact structure of any eventual legislation remains unsettled.
For Trump, however, the goal is straightforward: encourage studios to shoot more movies and television programs in the US while creating domestic entertainment jobs.
“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,” Trump wrote.
