Legendary actor Jon Voight revealed Monday that he proposed tariffs on certain Hollywood films to President Donald Trump.
The actor stated on social media he brought the idea to Trump, effectively triggering a series of events culminating in the tariffs.
Trump announced Sunday on Truth Social he was authorizing the Department of Commerce and the United States Trade Representative to start the process of enacting a 100% tariff on American films produced in “foreign lands.”
Voight released a video Tuesday explaining his decision.
“I recently met with our president, Donald J. Trump, who loves the entertainment business,” Voight said in his X post titled, “Plan to rescue Hollywood.”
“[He] wants to see Hollywood thrive and make films bigger and greater than ever before, as he says, and see productions come back to American Hollywood,” he stated. “The Hollywood that I fell in love with when I was a child and was honored to contribute to during my career.”
Voight added that Americans in the film industry have lost jobs due to productions moving overseas.
“Our industry recently has suffered greatly, over these past few years, and many Americans have lost jobs to productions that have gone overseas. It’s been very serious. People have … lost their homes. Can’t feed their families.”
US President Donald Trump awards the National Medal of Arts to actor Jon Voight (L) in the East Room of the White House in Washington, DC, on November 21, 2019. (Photo by Andrew CABALLERO-REYNOLDS / AFP) (Photo by ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS/AFP via Getty Images)
“After meeting with many of the entertainment leaders, I have brought forward recommendations to the president for certain tax provisions that can help the industry,” Voight continued. “Some provisions that could be extended and others that could be revived or instituted. This would help the movie and television production and our beloved theaters that are so important to the American family experience.”
Voight reiterated his pro-Trump stance and emphasized his full support of the tariffs.
“Our president loves this nation and all the hard-working people in it,” he said.
US President Donald Trump awards the National Medal of Arts to actor Jon Voight (L) in the East Room of the White House in Washington, DC, on November 21, 2019. (Photo by Andrew CABALLERO-REYNOLDS / AFP) (Photo by ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS/AFP via Getty Images)
“He’s a great business man, a leader, and a caring person that will always do the right thing for this country, the people, and our beloved entertainment industry.” (RELATED: Trump’s Newly Announced Tariff Sends Movie Industry Into Panic)
Voight has long been a staunch ally of Trump and a leading conservative voice in Hollywood.
Trump appointed Voight and other fellow actors Mel Gibson and Sylvester Stallone to be special ambassadors, tasked with promoting business opportunities in Hollywood.
“I’m proud to call the 47th president of the United States of America my friend, and as I’ve said before he’s the greatest president since Abraham Lincoln, and yes Sly, George Washington — that’s Sly Stallone — my buddy,” Voight said.
