Legendary actor Jon Voight revealed Monday that he personally proposed a new tariff policy targeting Hollywood films produced overseas to President Donald Trump, an idea that has since spurred official action from the administration.
In a video shared on X titled “Plan to rescue Hollywood,” Voight said he met with Trump to discuss ways to rejuvenate the U.S. entertainment industry, claiming that outsourcing film production has harmed American workers and weakened Hollywood’s cultural influence.
“I recently met with our president, Donald J. Trump, who loves the entertainment business,” Voight said. “He wants to see Hollywood thrive and make films bigger and greater than ever before … see productions come back to American Hollywood.”
Trump announced Sunday that he had directed the Department of Commerce and the U.S. Trade Representative to begin the process of imposing a 100% tariff on American films produced outside the country. The move is intended to incentivize studios to return production to the U.S., reversing a trend that has accelerated in recent years.
Voight argued that the migration of film production overseas has devastated the domestic industry. “Many Americans have lost jobs to productions that have gone overseas,” he said. “It’s been very serious. People have … lost their homes. Can’t feed their families.”
The actor also said he worked with entertainment leaders to craft a list of policy proposals for the president. “I have brought forward recommendations to the president for certain tax provisions that can help the industry,” Voight said, adding that tax incentives for domestic production and theaters could be key to revitalizing the sector.
“Our president loves this nation and all the hard-working people in it,” he continued. “He’s a great business man, a leader, and a caring person that will always do the right thing for this country, the people, and our beloved entertainment industry.”
Voight has been one of Trump’s most vocal supporters in Hollywood and was previously named a special ambassador, along with actors Mel Gibson and Sylvester Stallone, to promote U.S. business interests in the entertainment industry.
“I’m proud to call the 47th president of the United States of America my friend,” Voight said, “and as I’ve said before, he’s the greatest president since Abraham Lincoln — and yes, Sly, George Washington too.”