George Clooney Slams Trump’s Film Tariff Plan, Urges U.S. Tax Incentives

News in Short (60 words)

Hollywood star George Clooney criticized U.S. President Donald Trump’s threat to impose a 100% tariff on all foreign films, calling it the wrong fix for a real problem. Speaking at the Albies awards in London, Clooney said jobs were leaving California due to poor tax incentives, not overseas productions. He urged federal incentives like those in New York and Louisiana.

News in Detail: George Clooney

Hollywood actor and director George Clooney has strongly opposed U.S. President Donald Trump’s latest proposal to impose a 100% tariff on all films produced overseas, warning that such a move would harm the entertainment industry while failing to address the root of the problem.

Clooney made his remarks on Friday ahead of the Albies awards ceremony in London, an annual event he and his wife Amal Clooney founded to honor courageous global human rights defenders.

The Oscar-winning star acknowledged that Trump had correctly identified a challenge facing Hollywood – that jobs are increasingly leaving California – but argued that tariffs were not the solution.

“The jobs are going away, but it’s because we don’t have proper tax incentives or rebates like you do in New York,” George Clooney told reporters. “If the president wants to implement a federal incentive that matches the ones we see in Louisiana, New Jersey, or New York, then I think that would make a big difference in helping out.”

Trump’s Tariff Proposal Sparks Concern George Clooney

President Trump’s plan, announced earlier this week, threatens to double the costs of foreign films entering the U.S. market. He framed the policy as a way to protect American film workers and bring production back to U.S. soil. However, industry experts warn the move could disrupt Hollywood’s global model, which relies heavily on international co-productions, overseas shooting locations, and foreign box office revenues.

Film industry analysts note that tax rebates and incentives offered by states such as Georgia, New York, and New Jersey have successfully attracted major film projects in recent years. By contrast, California’s incentive system has been criticized as insufficient, leading studios to move productions abroad or to other states.

Clooney Shifts Focus to Incentives

Clooney emphasized that offering stronger domestic tax benefits would be a more effective strategy than protectionist tariffs. “What we need are policies that make it more attractive to keep jobs here in the United States. Punishing films from overseas doesn’t achieve that – but proper incentives could,” he said.

His remarks were echoed by several Hollywood insiders who argue that rather than isolating U.S. productions, the government should work on making the U.S. a competitive destination for filmmakers.

The Albies Recognize Human Rights Defenders

George Clooney’s comments came on the sidelines of the third annual Albies awards, hosted by the Clooney Foundation for Justice. The event honored individuals who have demonstrated extraordinary courage in defending human rights, fighting corruption, and promoting equality.

This year’s honorees included:

Melinda French Gates – for decades of philanthropy focused on women’s health, family planning, and gender equality.
Marty Baron – the former editor of The Washington Post and The Boston Globe, recognized for his leadership in upholding journalistic integrity.
Darren Walker – president of the Ford Foundation, honored for creating a $1 billion social bond during the COVID-19 pandemic to stabilize U.S. non-profits.
Fatou Baldeh – a leading global activist raising awareness of the dangers of female genital mutilation.
José Rubén Zamora – a Guatemalan journalist who has spent over 30 years investigating political corruption, often at personal risk.

The Albies have quickly become one of the most respected platforms for highlighting global voices of justice and resilience. George Clooney said he and Amal were proud to continue providing recognition to those who “risk everything to speak truth to power.”

Hollywood vs. Trump: A Growing Rift

George Clooney’s rebuke adds to a growing list of Hollywood figures opposing Trump’s cultural trade policies. Many argue that tariffs would not only raise costs for studios but could also limit the variety of films available to American audiences.

While Trump portrays his plan as a way to revive U.S. jobs in film and entertainment, Clooney and others believe incentives, not isolationism, are the path forward.

As the debate continues, the clash underscores the tension between Trump’s protectionist agenda and the film industry’s inherently global nature – one that thrives on collaboration across borders.