Former President Donald Trump has thrown his support behind a federal tax incentive package aimed at keeping film and television production in the United States, urging lawmakers to fast-track the measure with a characteristically blunt call to action: “Let’s get this done!”

The endorsement, delivered during a meeting with industry executives and union representatives in Los Angeles, marks an unusual alignment between the Republican leader and a Hollywood community that has frequently clashed with him politically. Trump framed the proposal as an economic necessity rather than a cultural olive branch, arguing that runaway production - the practice of shooting overseas to cut costs - is draining American jobs and revenue at a time when the entertainment sector is still recalibrating after labor strikes and shifting streaming economics.

“We have the best crews, the best talent, the best locations in the world,” Trump said at the gathering, according to a participant who spoke on condition of anonymity because the event was private. “But our own tax code is pushing them to Canada, to the UK, to places that don’t love our country the way we do. That’s not smart. That’s not winning. We’re going to change that.”

The proposed incentive, which has been circulating in draft form among bipartisan staffers on the House Ways and Means Committee, would offer a 25% credit on qualifying domestic production expenditures, with additional bonuses for projects that hire local crews outside major metropolitan hubs or commit to long-term studio investments. Supporters argue the measure could reverse a decade-long trend in which big-budget features and series increasingly shoot in jurisdictions like London, Vancouver, Budapest, and Atlanta - with the latter still benefiting from Georgia’s generous state-level credits, but many other states lacking comparable programs.

While Trump did not invent the idea - similar federal credit proposals have surfaced periodically since the early 2000s - his public backing gives the effort a powerful political patron. Industry observers note that a federal credit would complement, not replace, existing state incentives, effectively layering another discount on top of what states already offer. That could make the U.S. far more competitive with countries that offer nationwide rebates, such as Australia, which frequently lures productions with a combination of federal and regional subsidies.

“This is a game-changer if it passes,” said a veteran line producer who has worked on both coasts and abroad, speaking on background because he was not authorized to discuss ongoing negotiations. “A federal credit on top of California or New York or Georgia would make it stupid not to stay home. Right now, the math often pushes you across the border. This flips that math.”

Trump’s involvement is not without irony. During his presidency, his administration imposed tariffs on imported film equipment and took a hard line on immigration policies that some studios said complicated work visas for international crew members. His relationship with Hollywood has been adversarial for years, marked by public feuds with actors, directors, and awards-show hosts. Yet his 2024 campaign and subsequent political activities have leaned into populist economic messaging, and aides say he sees production incentives as a natural fit for a platform promising to bring manufacturing - including the manufacturing of entertainment - back to American soil.

“This isn’t about politics. It’s about jobs,” said a senior advisor to Trump who traveled with him on the trip. “He’s always said a rising tide lifts all boats. If you can keep a $150 million movie shooting in Wilmington instead of Budapest, that’s hundreds of restaurants, hotels, hardware stores, catering companies, and trucking firms getting paid. That’s not a red-state or blue-state issue. That’s an American issue.”

The endorsement drew immediate reaction from both sides of the aisle. Representative Grace Nguyen, a California Democrat who co-sponsored an earlier version of the credit legislation, welcomed Trump’s support but cautioned that her party would not accept a bill stripped of labor protections or diversity requirements. “If the former president wants to help, we’ll take the help,” she said in a statement. “But we’re not going to sacrifice worker rights or equitable hiring practices on the altar of a photo op.”

Meanwhile, some conservative fiscal hawks expressed skepticism, questioning whether the federal government should be subsidizing an industry already valued in the hundreds of billions. Tax policy analysts have pointed out that credits can be inefficient, often redistributing revenue to productions that would have shot domestically anyway. Still, proponents counter that the U.S. has lost an estimated one-third of its on-location shooting days over the past two decades, and that a coordinated federal push could stanch the bleeding.

For studio executives, the prospect of a federal credit adds a new variable to long-term planning. Streaming services, in particular, have globalized production to maximize tax breaks across multiple territories, and a robust U.S. incentive could shift where they greenlight series bibles and franchise installments. One high-ranking production executive at a major studio told USA Film News that his company had already begun modeling scenarios in which a federal credit makes Los Angeles or New York more attractive for tentpoles than London.

“We’re always looking at the whole basket - talent availability, infrastructure, post facilities, and above all, the tax picture,” he said. “If Washington actually gets serious, you’ll see a lot of projects move back. And I mean a lot.”

Trump’s team says he intends to lobby key senators directly in the coming weeks, and aides hint that he may make the incentive a centerpiece of upcoming rallies in swing states with active film industries, including Georgia, Pennsylvania, and Michigan. The former president’s itinerary was not confirmed for this article, but the political calculation is clear: in a polarized environment, an issue that creates jobs across diverse locales offers rare common ground.

“Look, I’ve been in this business for 30 years,” said a veteran location manager who has scouted everywhere from Morocco to Monaco. “We’ve heard politicians promise stuff before. But when Trump says ‘let’s get this done,’ he usually means it. He doesn’t just talk. He pushes. And God knows this industry could use a win right now.”

For the moment, the bill remains in draft form, with no formal hearing yet scheduled. But the endorsement has given it momentum, and supporters are optimistic that a package could be attached to a must-pass budget reconciliation bill later this fall. Whether that optimistic timeline holds is another question, but few in Hollywood doubt that the conversation has shifted. As one studio chief put it, “We’ve spent years begging for help. Now we’ve got a heavyweight in the corner. Let’s see if he can land a punch.”

Source: Variety