‘LOTR’ star Sean Astin thanks Trump as Hollywood unions rally behind the president’s plan to bring jobs home
The Independent • • entertainment
Key Points:
- President Donald Trump called for a federal production incentive to bring film and television jobs back to the U.S., receiving support from major Southern California entertainment unions including SAG-AFTRA, IATSE, and Teamsters Local 399.
- The unions argue that U.S. productions and thousands of jobs have been lost overseas due to more competitive incentives offered by other countries, and they see Trump’s endorsement as a boost to longstanding efforts for federal support.
- California is attempting to combat declining production with increased state tax credits, but faces competition from other states and countries, as well as challenges from the pandemic, Hollywood strikes, and wildfires.
- Democratic Senator Adam Schiff and the Motion Picture Association also support a federal film tax incentive, emphasizing its potential to restore jobs and stimulate production nationwide beyond California.
- Trump’s current call for incentives marks a shift from his 2025 proposal to impose tariffs on foreign-produced movies, with bipartisan discussions on the incentive reportedly underway.
