Source: Orange County Register
by Zoltan Kesz
“Donald Trump’s latest policy stunt, a proposed 100% tariff on all foreign-made films, is designed to appear as a patriotic gesture at first glance. Trump frames the issue as a “national security” concern, claiming that Hollywood productions are ‘betraying’ their home countries when they organize filming in Canada, the UK, or even my native country, Hungary. He is wrong. The MAGA spirit is all about America being more self-sufficient, a political message that has swept Europe and the US, only this time it’s not about the usual industries of steel, oil, and cars. It’s about entertainment, culture, and creativity. Oddly, it’s a protectionist play for an industry and zip code most hostile to President Trump’s agenda. … In the era of streaming, smaller productions churned out at an exceptionally high rate are the lifeblood of platforms like Netflix, Paramount, HBO, and Hulu.” (05/07/25)