Trump Urges Congress to Act on Hollywood Tax Incentive

President Donald Trump called on Congress to swiftly approve a nationwide tax incentive for film and television production, throwing his support behind a bipartisan effort to bring entertainment jobs back to the United States.

In a series of posts on Truth Social, Trump wrote: "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." He added, "Congress should approve, immediately, a Federal Production Incentive to create Entertainment Jobs in America."

The president's call followed a meeting with Jon Voight, whom Trump appointed as one of his special ambassadors to Hollywood in 2025, along with Mel Gibson and Sylvester Stallone. Trump described the meeting as "GREAT and very interesting" and praised Voight as a "movie legend" who "loves our Country."

"He hates what's happened to it! It is being dissipated in its entirety. It has moved to Canada, and other Countries, with very little work being done anymore in the United States," Trump wrote. "Hollywood is a Complete and Total Disaster!"

Trump said Voight and industry leaders suggested a federal tax incentive to "Make our Movie and Television Production Business GREAT AGAIN, perhaps GREATER THAN EVER BEFORE!" He argued that "The amount of money spent on Tax Incentives will be made up tenfold by the money pouring into the Treasury's coffers."

Bipartisan Support and Industry Reaction

The proposal has drawn support from both sides of the political aisle. Conservative actor Jon Voight has been lobbying the administration for a federal production credit, while Democratic California Sen. Adam Schiff has championed similar ideas. Schiff held a Senate hearing on runaway film and television production in March and last year circulated a proposal offering a 15% federal credit for qualifying labor expenses, according to Variety. Reuters reported that SP Media Group CEO Steven Paul and company President Scott Karol proposed a 20% labor credit.

Trump said meetings are being set up with leaders of both parties to advance the legislation. "It should be Bipartisan, especially since so much money is being lost in California, and other largely Blue States," he wrote.

The Motion Picture Association welcomed the president's endorsement. Chairman and CEO Charles Rivkin said in a statement: "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." Rivkin added, "We applaud President Trump's support for this vital action, and we look forward to working with the White House and bipartisan leaders in Congress to enact a meaningful national incentive into law."

Background and Next Steps

Before his second inauguration, Trump announced the Special Ambassadors program to promote business in Hollywood. In May 2025, Voight and Steven Paul submitted a comprehensive plan to Trump, which includes federal tax incentives, changes to tax codes, co-production treaties with foreign countries, and infrastructure subsidies. The recent meeting with Voight was conducted in person at Trump's Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida.

White House spokesman Kush Desai said President Trump formulated the idea of using tariffs to "Make Hollywood Great Again."

Trump's endorsement comes amid concerns about the film and television industry's shift overseas, with productions increasingly shooting in countries like Canada. The president's proposal aims to reverse that trend by making the S. more competitive.

Voight's representatives did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Fox News Digital.