Film director Wes Anderson mocked President Donald Trump over his plan to slap tariffs on foreign films made outside of the United States.

Why It Matters

The president said he would direct the Commerce Department and U.S. Trade Representative “to immediately begin the process of instituting a 100% Tariff on any and all Movies coming into our Country that are produced in Foreign Lands.” The president has been engaged in an on-again, off-again relationship with hitting countries with tariffs before backtracking.

What To Know

At a press conference during the Cannes Film Festival, Anderson, an Oscar winner, questioned the practical implementation of the tariffs after a reporter asked him a question about the issue.

“Tariffs are fascinating. I’ve never heard of a 100 percent tariff before. I’m not an expert in that area of economics, but I feel that means he’s saying he’s going to take all the money. And then what do we get? So it’s complicated to me,” he said.

“Does that mean you can hold up the movie in customs? I feel it doesn’t ship that way. I’m not sure I want to know the details, so I’ll hold off on my official answer.”

Since the announcement on May 5, the U.S. president has not provided additional details about his film tariff plans. In response, an open letter signed by major studios, film industry unions, and Trump’s own “Hollywood ambassadors,” Jon Voight and Sylvester Stallone, urges the government to support the American film industry through tax incentives, specifically highlighting those used in the United Kingdom and Australia.

According to data compiled by film producer and industry researcher Stephen Follows, a significant number of films continue to be produced in the United States, although he notes that the definition of “made in America” can be difficult to pin down. The market share of Hollywood, referring to films produced by major U.S. studios, has increased in recent years, rising from approximately 70 percent in 2017 to nearly 90 percent by 2024.

Anderson attended the 2025 Cannes Film Festival, where The Phoenician Scheme had its world premiere in the main competition section on May 18, 2025.

The Phoenician Scheme follows business magnate Zsa-zsa Korda (Benicio del Toro) as he names his daughter, Sister Liesl (Mia Threapleton), his sole heir. Their decision quickly draws the attention of rival tycoons, international terrorists, and assassins.

What People Are Saying

President Donald Trump, on Truth Social: “The Movie Industry in America is DYING a very fast death. Other Countries are offering all sorts of incentives to draw our filmmakers and studios away from the United States. Hollywood, and many other areas within the U.S.A., are being devastated. This is a concerted effort by other Nations and, therefore, a National Security threat. It is, in addition to everything else, messaging and propaganda!

“Therefore, I am authorizing the Department of Commerce, and the United States Trade Representative, to immediately begin the process of instituting a 100% Tariff on any and all Movies coming into our Country that are produced in Foreign Lands. WE WANT MOVIES MADE IN AMERICA, AGAIN!”

Representative Ted Lieu said in remarks captured by C-Span on May 7: “Regarding Donald Trump’s random tariff imposition now on movies, I just want to say, in the California State Legislature, I was a co-author of their film and TV tax credit. I think that is the way to go because that doesn’t actually increase costs on movies. A tariff on movies, foreign movies, would increase costs on movies, and no one in Hollywood was asking for a 100 percent tariff. Donald Trump didn’t appear to have talked to anyone about the 100 percent tariff on foreign movies. It just seems like another random idea that he put out there with no thought about how it would actually be implemented because if it was implemented, it would increase consumer costs on movies. Also, it would just make some movies really far less interesting, right? So if ‘All Quiet on the Western Front’ had to be renamed ‘All Quiet on the U.S. Side of the Canadian Border’, much less interesting movie. So there’s just no thought behind what Donald Trump is doing with his indiscriminate tariffs.”

What Happens Next

It remains unknown if the administration will follow through with its plan to impose 100 percent tariffs on films.