Trump’s Movie Tariff Sparks Global Backlash and Accusations of Racism.

Trump’s Movie Tariff Sparks Global Backlash and Accusations of Racism.

In the USA

The news as it trends.

President Donald Trump has announced a sweeping 100% tariff on all movies produced outside the United States, including major global film industries like Nollywood (Nigeria), Bollywood (India), and others.

The move, shared via Truth Social, claims to protect the American film industry from what Trump calls “theft” by foreign countries offering better production incentives.

But critics argue the policy reeks of xenophobia and economic nationalism, disproportionately targeting non-Western creators.

The tariff would make it nearly impossible for foreign films to enter the U.S. market without doubling their costs—crippling distribution, raising ticket prices, and potentially fueling piracy.

Industry experts warn this could devastate diaspora-driven markets and reduce cultural diversity in American cinemas.

While Trump blames California’s leadership for the decline of Hollywood, many insiders see this as a thinly veiled attack on global storytelling.

Experts argue that Hollywood knows what’s best for itself, and if it’s struggling, it should be the industry—not the president—leading the conversation.

The policy is being described as one that decides whose stories get told and whose voices get silenced.

If implemented, it could fracture international film relations and isolate American audiences from the world’s rich cinematic landscape.

This move could also backfire, with other countries imposing retaliatory tariffs on American films—limiting global accessibility and creating division where none is needed.