Trump calls Hollywood a 'total disaster,' pushes federal tax incentive for film after meeting with Jon Voight
President Trump boasted about progress made with one of his Hollywood Special Ambassadors, Jon Voight.
The commander-in-chief admitted he had a "great and very interesting meeting" with the "movie legend," who he appointed to a special envoy in 2025 which includes Mel Gibson and Sylvester Stallone.
"He is a fantastic man who loves our Country, and feels strongly about the Motion Picture and Television Industry," Trump shared on his Truth Social platform.
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"He hates what’s happened to it! It is being dissipated in its entirety. It has moved to Canada, and other Countries, with very little work being done anymore in the United States."
Trump continued, "Hollywood is a Complete and Total Disaster! Despite the name, it is getting very little work. There is no incentive to be there, and it is hurting California very badly."
The president noted that Jon, along with industry leaders, suggested a federal tax incentive in order to "Make our Movie and Television Production Business GREAT AGAIN, perhaps GREATER THAN EVER BEFORE!"
"The amount of money spent on Tax Incentives will be made up tenfold by the money pouring into the Treasury’s coffers," Trump wrote. "Meetings are being set up with the Leaders of both Parties in order to get this done. It should be Bipartisan, especially since so much money is being lost in California, and other largely Blue States.
"I am going to suggest that Republicans and Democrats get together, and immediately craft Legislation to save the Movie, Television, and Entertainment Business in America. Congress should approve, immediately, a Federal Production Incentive to create Entertainment Jobs in America."
He added, "It can be done quickly, accurately, efficiently and, importantly, will benefit ALL of America. What we watch on the Silver Screen should be made in what was once the Movie and Motion Picture Capital of the World. Let’s get this done!"
Voight's representatives did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment.
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Motion Picture Association Chairman and CEO Charles Rivkin welcomed the proposal from Trump.
"For over a century, American studios, casts, and crews have produced the films and series that the world wants to see," he said in a statement shared with Fox News Digital. "A federal incentive would be a landmark step toward bringing more production to local communities in all 50 states, strengthening our nation’s economy, and making our country a more competitive place to produce, create, and tell great stories."
Rivkin added, "We applaud President Trump’s support for this vital action, and we look forward to continuing to work with the White House and bipartisan leaders in Congress to enact a meaningful and effective national incentive into law."
Shortly before Inauguration Day for his second term in office, Trump revealed the Special Ambassadors program in efforts to promote business in Hollywood.
"It is my honor to announce Jon Voight, Mel Gibson, and Sylvester Stallone, to be Special Ambassadors to a great but very troubled place, Hollywood, California," Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform.
"They will serve as Special Envoys to me for the purpose of bringing Hollywood, which has lost much business over the last four years to Foreign Countries, BACK—BIGGER, BETTER, AND STRONGER THAN EVER BEFORE!"
He added, "These three very talented people will be my eyes and ears, and I will get done what they suggest. It will again be, like The United States of America itself, The Golden Age of Hollywood!"
In May 2025, Voight, along with special advisor Steven Paul, submitted a "comprehensive plan" to the president to save the film and television industry.
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Voight and Paul met with "dozens of leading film and television organizations (guilds, unions, studios and streamers) about what changes need to be made to increase domestic film production," according to a statement.
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The meeting was conducted in person with Trump at his Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida and included SP Media Group/Atlas Comics President Scott Karol.
"The proposal includes federal tax incentives, significant changes to several tax codes, the establishment of co-production treaties with foreign countries, and infrastructure subsidies for theater owners, film and television production companies, and post-production companies," the statement said. "The proposal also includes a focus on job training, and tariffs in certain limited circumstances."
He added, "This plan is about leveling the playing field so that producing right here in America is not only a competitive option, but the first choice."
The White House and its relevant policy advisors were in the process of reviewing the proposal.
"While President Trump regularly corresponds with his Hollywood Ambassadors, including Jon Voight, to restore America’s cultural dominance, it was President Trump himself who formulated the idea of using tariffs to Make Hollywood Great Again," White House Spokesman Kush Desai told Fox News Digital at the time.