Trump’s Tariff Bombshell: Will TV Be Next?

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this plan has left people scratching their heads, wondering if it’s even possible, and pondering what might happen to TV shows.

Trump expressed his frustration on Sunday evening, stating, “We need American-made movies back again!” He asserted that the film industry in America is rapidly declining due to foreign countries providing incentives to lure our filmmakers and studios away from the U.S. This situation, he argued, is not only affecting Hollywood but many other parts of the country. Trump described it as a deliberate move by other nations, which poses a threat to our national security. Furthermore, he suggested that this trend serves as a means for messaging and propaganda.

By Monday morning, Trump’s press liaison was already walking all of that back a bit.

Though no definite decisions regarding foreign film tariffs have been reached yet, the Administration is investigating all possible measures to fulfill President Trump’s instruction and protect our nation’s safety, both national and economic, as part of his campaign ‘Make America Great Again in Hollywood’,” White House spokesman Kush Desai explained to The Hollywood Reporter on Monday.

As a gamer, I’d put it this way: “Just a heads up, there might be some changes coming for ‘movies’, whether you call them that or capitalize it. It seems like TV shows or series aren’t part of the equation right now, so we’ll see how this unfolds in the world of entertainment.

One possibility could be: “It’s plausible that Trump is intentionally planning to impose a tariff on films produced abroad and brought into the U.S., or it might just be that his choice of words lacks any underlying logic.” Both interpretations seem equally feasible.

The Hollywood Reporter asked Desai about the TV side of the industry. He did not respond.

Americans tend to watch significantly more foreign-made TV shows (regardless of language) compared to films. Is Trump acknowledging this part of the industry, and if so, why? Possible reasons might include difficulty in regulation, his background as a reality TV star, or the fact that films generate greater monetary revenue than series.

Again, with Trump, these all seem like equivalent possibilities. There is one more option.

Michael Pachter, the head of equity research at Wedbush Securities, described him as being not very smart in an email to THR.

According to Pachter, interpreting Trump’s recent decree is challenging as it seems that Trump often lacks clarity in his statements.

Analysts can outright say what journalists can’t.

In essence, Trump has the ability to unilaterally affect all forms of intellectual property, encompassing films, books, video games, and comics, at his discretion,” Pachter explained further. “His actions could potentially inflict significant harm on the U.S. entertainment industry.

Movie production companies seem to be forming a united front, indicating they may collectively approach President Trump to reconsider his stance on this issue. Traditional film studios are aware of the potential impact on them, but what about streaming services like Netflix? The situation, much like the proposed tariff itself, is intricate.

Netflix focuses significantly on worldwide growth and creating shows in various languages from all parts of the globe. According to Wedbush, approximately 3 out of every 4 pieces of content on Netflix originate from countries outside the U.S. The bulk of Netflix’s collection does not stem from in-house production; instead, it is acquired content, implying that Netflix has limited influence over where these shows are produced.

A spokesperson for Netflix did not respond to THR’s request for comment on Trump’s tariff threat.

To expand its subscriber base beyond the United States and Canada, where Netflix has already reached its saturation point, it’s essential for Netflix to create shows and movies for the other 188 countries, and it could even benefit from producing content in those locations due to lower costs.

Ron Leshem, the brains behind the popular Israeli show “Bad Boy” currently streaming on Netflix, shared with THR that if an episode of a major HBO series costs as much here, he could have produced five to six seasons of “Bad Boy”. Since Leshem is the original creator of “Euphoria” and serves as an executive producer for its American adaptation, his statement carries some financial weight, quite literally.

Essentially, Netflix’s content is usually accessible globally, but a 100% tax might affect this for U.S. viewers. This means we could miss out on shows like Squid Game (Korean/South Korea), Baby Reindeer (English/Scotland), Money Heist (Spanish/Spain), Lupin (French/France), Adolescence (England), Bridgerton (UK), Wednesday (Romania), and The Queen’s Gambit (Berlin) if they aren’t tax-friendly. This is a significant loss of cultural exchange due to a political decision, or we might only get them after they become hits in Netflix’s 189 other countries. So, it’s time to dust off those VPNs!

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2025-05-06 23:54