logo
How Britain became Hollywood's biggest threat as Trump threatens movie tariffs

How Britain became Hollywood's biggest threat as Trump threatens movie tariffs

Daily Mirror05-05-2025

President Trump has announced plans to hit films made outside of the UK with 100% tariffs in a bid to save the US' 'dying' film industry as filmmakers move abroad to keep costs down
Donald Trump has said he is planning to hit films made outside the US with 100% tariffs as he ramps up more trade disputes. The president has announced he is imposing a levy on foreign films because America's film industry was "dying a very fast death" due to soaring costs of filming in Hollywood.
The growing cost of production in Hollywood has resulted in filmmakers moving production overseas to keep costs low and now it appears the UK may be giving Tinseltown a run for its money.

Trump has blamed a "concerted effort" by other countries that offer incentives for films to be made elsewhere - something he thinks is a "national security threat".

Trump took to his Truth Social platform and said: "It is, in addition to everything else, messaging and propaganda! WE WANT MOVIES MADE IN AMERICA, AGAIN!"
US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick responded to the announcement, saying "We're on it". However it's not clear what will come into place and whether the tariff would apply to American production companies producing films abroad. Films such as Deadpool & Wolverine, Wicked and Gladiator II were all produced by US studios but were shot outside of America.
It's part of the imposed film tariffs the president has imposed on the rest of the world since his return to the White House in January. He stated these tariffs will help boost US manufacturers and protect jobs, despite throwing the global economy into chaos.
It's also unclear if the tariffs would apply for films on streaming services including Netflix, as well as cinemas. Timothy Richards, founder of VUE cinema chain shared his thoughts on BBC Radio 4's Today programme. He questioned how Trump would define a US film and said: "Is it where the money comes from? The script, the director, the talent, where it was shot?"
He further explained how the cost of filming in Hollywood has significantly grown over the decades which has meant filmmakers have been drawn to move production to locations including the UK, which have increasingly offered tax incentives and lower costs.
"But it's not just the actual financing itself. One of reasons UK has done so well is we have some of the most highly experienced and skilled film and production crew in the world, the devil will be in the details," Mr Richards added.

But if these tariffs come into play, UK media union Bectu warned they could "deal a knock-out blow" to the industry including the thousands of freelancers. Union chief Philippa Childs told the BBC: "The government must move swiftly to defend this vital sector, and support the freelancers who power it, as a matter of essential national economic interest."
In response to the tariff threats, the UK government said it was "absolutely committed" to making sure the film sector thrives and create jobs. This includes plans to do so in its upcoming Creative Industries Sector Plan.
Ahead of his inauguration, Trump appointed film stars Jon Voight, Mel Gibson and Sylvester Stallone to become special ambassadors tasked with promoting business opportunities in Hollywood, which he described as a "great but very troubled place". Trump wrote at the time: "They will serve as Special Envoys to me for the purpose of bringing Hollywood, which has lost much business over the last four years to Foreign Countries, BACK - BIGGER, BETTER, AND STRONGER THAN EVER BEFORE!"

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

What does the law say about Trump sending troops to LA and ICE protests?
What does the law say about Trump sending troops to LA and ICE protests?

The Independent

time10 minutes ago

  • The Independent

What does the law say about Trump sending troops to LA and ICE protests?

Donald Trump has deployed National Guard troops to California following two days of protests against immigration raids. The demonstrations, involving hundreds of people, were described by Trump as interference with federal law enforcement, even suggesting they could be a "form of rebellion" against the US government. California Governor Gavin Newsom has pushed back against the move. On Sunday, Newsom said he had formally requested that the Trump Administration rescind "its unlawful deployment of troops in Los Angeles County" and return them to his command. What laws did Trump cite to justify the move? Donald Trump invoked Title 10 of the US Code, a federal law defining the role of the US Armed Forces, in his June 7 order to federalise members of the California National Guard. Section 12406 of Title 10 permits the president to deploy National Guard units into federal service in specific circumstances, including invasion, rebellion, or if the president deems regular forces insufficient to enforce US laws. What are National Guard troops allowed to do under the law cited in Trump's order? An 1878 law, the Posse Comitatus Act, generally forbids the US military, including the National Guard, from taking part in civilian law enforcement. Section 12406 does not override that prohibition, but it allows the troops to protect federal agents who are carrying out law enforcement activity and to protect federal property. For example, National Guard troops cannot arrest protesters, but they could protect US Immigration and Customs Enforcement who are carrying out arrests. What are the implications for freedom of speech? The First Amendment of the US Constitution guarantees the right to assembly, freedom of speech and the press. Experts have said that Trump's decision to have US troops respond to protests is an ominous sign for how far the president is willing to go to repress political speech and activity that he disagrees with or that criticizes his administration's policies. Is Trump's move susceptible to legal challenges? Four legal experts from both left- and right-leaning advocacy organizations have cast doubt on Trump's use of Title 10 in response to immigration protests calling it inflammatory and reckless, especially without the support of California's Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom, who has said Trump's actions would only escalate tensions. The protests in California do not rise to the level of 'rebellion' and do not prevent the federal government from executing the laws of the United States, experts said. Title 10 also says "orders for these purposes shall be issued through the governors of the States," but legal experts said that language might not be an obstacle. Legislative history suggests that those words were likely meant to reflect the norms of how National Guard troops are typically deployed, rather than giving a governor the option to not comply with a president's decision to deploy troops. Could California sue to challenge Trump's move? California could file a lawsuit, arguing that deployment of National Guard troops was not justified by Title 10 because there was no 'rebellion' or threat to law enforcement. A lawsuit might take months to resolve, and the outcome would be uncertain. Because the protests may be over before a lawsuit is resolved, the decision to sue might be more of a political question than a legal one, experts said. What other laws could Trump invoke to direct the National Guard or other US Military troops? Trump could take a more far-reaching step by invoking the Insurrection Act of 1792, which would allow troops to directly participate in civilian law enforcement, for which there is little recent precedent. Casting protests as an 'insurrection' that requires the deployment of troops against US citizens would be riskier legal territory, one legal expert said, in part because mostly peaceful protests and minor incidents aren't the sort of thing that the Insurrection Act were designed to address. The Insurrection Act has been used by past presidents to deploy troops within the US in response to crises like the 1794 Whiskey Rebellion and the rise of the Ku Klux Klan in the immediate aftermath of the American Civil War. The law was last invoked by President George H.W. Bush in 1992, when the governor of California requested military aid to suppress unrest in Los Angeles following the Rodney King trial. But, the last time a president deployed the National Guard in a state without a request from that state's governor was 1965, when President Lyndon Johnson sent troops to protect civil rights demonstrators in Montgomery, Alabama.

Los Angeles rioters battle National Guard & cops over ICE immigration raids as Marines put on standby to tackle carnage
Los Angeles rioters battle National Guard & cops over ICE immigration raids as Marines put on standby to tackle carnage

The Sun

time11 minutes ago

  • The Sun

Los Angeles rioters battle National Guard & cops over ICE immigration raids as Marines put on standby to tackle carnage

LOS ANGELES has faced another day of carnage with troops and armed police fiercely clashing with lawless immigration rioters. The National Guard has been called into action by a furious Donald Trump as he blasted illegal aliens and criminals for "invading and occupying" LA. 8 8 8 8 Violent protesters have looted shops, attacked police and vandalised cars before setting them ablaze in the middle of the street. Horrifying footage captured police trapped under a highway bridge as rioters launched fireworks and dropped heavy rocks and blocks of cement onto their patrol cars. In response, agents in riot gear unleashed tear gas, flash-bang explosives and pepper balls to push back the lawless demonstrators. Trump also ordered the National Guard to storm LA early on Sunday morning to try and restore order. But the city has continued to brace for violent clashes over the controversial ICE immigration raids. Now, 500 Marines are in a "prepared to deploy" status at a base sat just 230km east of Los Angeles. Trump vowed to make sure his administration would "send whatever we need to make sure there's law and order". The President later wrote on his Truth Social platform that "violent, insurrectionist mobs are swarming and attacking our Federal Agents to try and stop our deportation operations". Speaking online again today the president called for anyone hiding their identities behind masks to be arrested immediately. Trump added: "Order will be restored, the Illegals will be expelled, and Los Angeles will be set free." 8 8 Tensions have escalated between police and protesters in LA after sweeping raids by ICE agents saw more than 100 immigrant arrests in the city over the past week. The confrontations mainly took place in the predominantly Latino suburb of Paramount. Police patrolled the streets on horseback while others with riot gear lined up behind Guard troops. Protesters directed chants of "shame" and "go home" at members of the National Guard, who stood shoulder to shoulder, carrying long guns and riot shields. Footage showed one demonstrator being knocked to the ground as they tried to stop an ICE vehicle, which then sped off. Elsewhere, trains were halted after protesters jumped on the tracks near an immigration detention centre. Trump's "border tsar" Homan has warned that someone could "lose their life" if the clashes continue. 8 8

Elon Musk and Donald Trump 'back together' as Tesla CEO extends olive branch
Elon Musk and Donald Trump 'back together' as Tesla CEO extends olive branch

Daily Mirror

time35 minutes ago

  • Daily Mirror

Elon Musk and Donald Trump 'back together' as Tesla CEO extends olive branch

Elon Musk and Donald Trump had a spectacular falling out which had been building as the tech billionaire attacked the US president's "big beautiful bill" for several days Elon Musk appeared to extend an olive branch to Donald Trump in a social media post over the LA protests fuelling speculation that they could be soon 'back together'. The tech billionaire's 'bromance' with Donald Trump came to a fiery end last week in an ugly online spat between the pair on Thursday after several days where Musk had been criticising the US government over the president's "big beautiful bill". Trump threatened to cut Musk's government contracts and the tech billionaire claimed that US government hasn't released all the records related to sex abuser Jeffrey Epstein because Trump is mentioned in them. There is no suggestion Trump knew of any crimes or participated in any criminal behaviour. ‌ ‌ But several days later it seems as though tempers have cooled and Trump shared on X a photo of Trump's Truth Social post calling out California Governor Gavin Newsom over his handling of the current trouble in Los Angeles. The post by Trump demands that Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass should "apologize to the people of Los Angeles for the absolutely horrible job that they have done, and this now includes the ongoing L.A. riots." He added: "These are not protesters, they are troublemakers and insurrectionists. Remember, NO MASKS!" In addition to Trump, the former head of the Department of Government Efficiency also shared a post by Vice President JD Vance, who said: "This moment calls for decisive leadership. The president will not tolerate rioting and violence." Musk added with his post two American flags. It has left many wondering whether this could mean an end to the war between the pair. "So are y'all besties again or...," one person wrote on social media. "You're doing the Seinfeld episode where George pretends he didn't rage quit his job. I'm for it," a second person stated. "Elon and Trump will be back together by the end of the week," a third person said. "Aren't you guys still fighting? " a fourth person laughed. ‌ The messy blow-up between the president of the United States and the world 's richest man played out on their respective social media platforms after Trump was asked during a White House meeting with Germany's new leader about Musk's criticism of his spending bill. Trump had largely remained silent as Musk stewed over the last few days on his social media platform X, condemning the president's so-called 'big beautiful bill.' But Trump clapped back Thursday in the Oval Office, saying he was 'very disappointed in Musk.' Musk responded on social media in real time. Trump, who was supposed to be spending Thursday discussing an end to the Russia-Ukraine war with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, ratcheted up the stakes when he turned to his own social media network, Truth Social, and threatened to use the US government to hurt Musk's bottom line by going after contracts held by his internet company Starlink and rocket company SpaceX. 'The easiest way to save money in our Budget, Billions and Billions of Dollars, is to terminate Elon's Governmental Subsidies and Contracts,' Trump wrote on his social media network. 'Go ahead, make my day,' Musk quickly replied on X. Hours later, Musk announced SpaceX would begin decommissioning the spacecraft it used to carry astronauts and cargo to the International Space Station for NASA. He later stepped back from making this call and his apparent move to make up with Trump comes as Tesla stocks have crashed.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store