For some time now, the idea of a federal film and television tax incentive has had bipartisan support, but Republican lawmakers have seemingly been waiting on word from the White House.
Now, it appears, that word has come. On Monday, President Donald Trump expressed support for the idea of a federal tax credit and posted that he wants to “get this done” in a lengthy Truth Social message.
“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,” Trump wrote. “Jon [Voight], and many others in the Industry, are suggesting we do Federal Tax Incentives in order to Make our Movie and Television Production Business GREAT AGAIN, perhaps GREATER THAN EVER BEFORE!”
The President added that “meetings are being set up” with bipartisan leaders. “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,” he continued.
Trump then exhorted Congress to approve such legislation, which would provide films and TV shows that shoot in the U.S. with incentives that they could stack on top of individual states’ tax credits. Advocates have called a federal tax credit a crucial step for the U.S. in order to compete with incentives offered by countries including Canada, the U.K. and Australia, among others.
