Gavin Newsom proposes $7.5 billion federal film incentives

Just after Donald Trump revealed his plan to impose 100% tariffs on "any and all" films produced by "foreign land", California Gov. Gavin Newsom said Monday that he wanted to work with the president to create a $7.5 billion federal tax incentive to help the film industry.

As film jobs have gone to Canada, the UK and elsewhere to seek incentives, many in the industry have pushed for years of federal film subsidies to fight “out of control production.” In the United States, tax credit programs are currently only available at the state level.

Newsom in a statement to type on Monday. “Building on our successful state program, we are eager to work with the Trump administration to further strengthen domestic production and make the United States film again.”

While Newsom is willing to work with Trump on this new tax incentive, Trump may not be so eager. Trump fired shots at a California politician at an Oval Office press conference on Monday, deeming him "very incompetent" as he allowed the American film industry to slip.

"Our film industry has been destroyed by other countries and eliminated it," Trump said. "And by incompetence. Just like in Los Angeles, the governor is a very incompetent person. Hollywood is just allowed to take it away. Hollywood isn't doing a lot."

Newsom's plan follows Trump's high heels for Hollywood's bombshell program, which would impose huge tariffs on films made outside the United States. Trump sees foreign production as a "national security threat" to the U.S. film industry, not only because they attract film producers to other markets, but also brings "message and publicity" to the U.S. theaters.

"The American film industry is dying rapidly," Trump wrote in a truth social post. "Other countries are offering various incentives to keep our film producers and studios away from the United States. Many other areas in Hollywood and many other areas within the United States have been disaster. It's a unanimous effort by other countries. All the films entering our country are foreign, and we want American-made movies!"

Shortly after Trump made the plan public, a White House spokesman clarified that it was still in its development stage and no official decision was made.

"While no final decision on foreign film tariffs has been made, the administration is exploring all options to fulfill President Trump's instructions to protect our country's national and economic security while making Hollywood stand out again," spokesman Kush Desai said.

This has not stopped Hollywood from being plagued by anger and confusion, and many are unsure how to make Trump's vague and clear proposals. The stock market immediately responded to a widespread decline in the entertainment industry. Lionsgate Studios fell 4.1%, Warner Bros. found a 2% drop, Netflix fell 1.9% and Paramount fell 1.6%.