President Trump Backs Federal Tax Incentive to Revitalize U.S. Film and TV Production

In a significant development for the entertainment industry, President Donald Trump has officially thrown his weight behind the creation of a federal tax incentive for film and television production. After months of bipartisan speculation and quiet maneuvering in Washington, the President signaled his intent to move forward, urging lawmakers to prioritize legislation that would bolster domestic content creation.

In a lengthy message posted to Truth Social on Monday, President Trump framed the initiative as a necessary economic intervention. “Hollywood is a Complete and Total Disaster! … There is no incentive to be there, and it is hurting California very badly,” Trump wrote. He indicated that he is currently organizing meetings with bipartisan leaders to “immediately craft legislation to save the Movie, Television, and Entertainment Business in America.”

A Competitive Necessity

The proposed federal credit is designed to allow productions to “stack” federal benefits on top of existing state-level incentives. Proponents, including major industry guilds and studio executives, argue that this is a vital move to keep the U.S. competitive against international rivals like Canada, the U.K., and Australia, which have long utilized aggressive tax subsidies to lure major productions away from American shores.

The push for a federal film and television tax incentive has gained momentum through persistent advocacy. Actor and long-time Trump ally Jon Voight has emerged as a key intermediary, working alongside associates Steven Paul and Scott Karol to steer the administration away from previous ideas—such as industry tariffs—toward a more collaborative tax-credit model that enjoys support from labor unions and studio trade groups alike.

Unlikely Bipartisan Consensus

The President’s endorsement has triggered a rare moment of alignment between the White House and prominent Democrats. Senator Adam Schiff, a frequent political adversary of the President, expressed immediate support for the initiative. “I am in strong agreement with the President,” Schiff said in a statement. “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.”

Representative Laura Friedman, another outspoken champion of the measure, echoed that urgency, stating that the legislation “needs to pass—and to pass quickly.”

Industry Reaction

Major industry organizations were quick to applaud the development. Charlie Rivkin, chairman and CEO of the Motion Picture Association (MPA), praised the move as a “landmark step” toward strengthening the nation’s economy. The Directors Guild of America (DGA) also signaled its readiness to collaborate with the Administration, emphasizing the potential for job creation and the preservation of the domestic production infrastructure.

While the exact legislative vehicle for this policy remains undecided—options include a standalone bill, a broader tax package, or a reconciliation measure—the convergence of White House support and bipartisan legislative interest suggests that a federal tax credit for entertainment is now a top-tier priority in Washington. As President Trump noted in his post, the goal is simple: “What we watch on the Silver Screen should be made in what was once the Movie and Motion Picture Capital of the World.”