Jon Voight wouldn't leave the White House before Donald Trump posted on Truth Social.
The Oscar-winning actor had spent more than a year trying to get the U.S. president to support a federal film tax credit. He'd come close in February, convincing Trump in private, but never got the public stamp of approval. Now, Voight sat across from the president, asking him to broadcast his position to the world. Trump called over his aide, Natalie Harp, and started
"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," Trump said. "Congress should approve, immediately, a Federal Production Incentive to create Entertainment Jobs in America."
Trump's support has spurred politicians on both sides of the aisle to try and pass a bill enshrining federal tax credits for film and TV production
Not long ago, a federal tax credit seemed impossible. Democratic presidents had been reluctant to look as though they were giving tax breaks to movie stars. Republicans weren't going to reward an industry that largely didn't support them. Legislation was never seriously discussed.
This movement may still go nowhere. But, for the first time, figures in both Hollywood and Washington say they are optimistic. That's thanks to an unlikely bipartisan coalition of lobbyists, producers, moguls, and politicians and a president who was a former reality TV star.
Tariffs, tariffs and more tariffs
Trump started talking about fixing Hollywood soon after his election. Last January, the president appointed three actors as his special ambassadors to the entertainment industry: Voight, Mel Gibson and Sylvester Stallone. Gibson, a 70-year-old industry outcast, learned of his role from Trump's social media post. Stallone, an 80-year-old action star, was busy filming a TV show. Voight is a Hollywood legend. He is also 87 years old.
Still, many in Hollywood saw an opportunity. Production had been steadily leaving the U.S. for places that offered more generous tax incentives. Trump loved entertainment and was enough of an iconoclast to pursue an idea others would not.
"He, from the beginning, understood the importance of the industry," said Laura Friedman, a former movie producer who is now a member of Congress. "It's crucial for tourism and soft power." Friedman, a Democrat, and Republican Brian Jack are the primary architects of the bill being written.
Politicians, unions and lobbyists huddled with Voight to help him better understand the issues and how to address them. In May of last year, Voight, flanked by his manager Steven Paul and producer Scott Karol, met with Trump at Mar-a-Lago. Voight presented a five-page proposal focused on tax credits, as well as extending deductions and incentives for co-productions. They also suggested a tariff on incentives that a film received for shooting overseas. All Trump heard was tariff.
Jon Voight speaks during a rally ahead of the 60th presidential inauguration in Washington, DC, in 2025. The next day, Trump
The Motion Picture Association, Hollywood's top lobbying group in Washington, felt the key was getting Trump to drop his fixation on tariffs and embrace the idea of a tax credit. This is not a tax break for movie stars. It's about bringing working-class jobs back to the US. Foreign countries and states have fought for production because they believe it has a positive economic impact, creating jobs and stimulating businesses like real estate and local restaurants.
The MPA coordinated with Hollywood labor unions like the Screen Actors Guild and the Directors Guild of America, as well as politicians, to push Trump's advisers to put their ideas in front of the president. They appealed to Trump's US trade representative, the Department of Commerce and the Treasury, all of whom understood tariffs weren't the solution.
Hollywood moguls traveled to Washington to make the appeal in person. Netflix Inc. co-Chief Executive Officer Ted Sarandos and Paramount Skydance Corp. CEO David Ellison met with members of Congress and Trump. Though Sarandos and Ellison were on
The supporters all came away with the same conclusion. A bill was impossible without Trump's full-throated support.
"As we met with the different Congress people, they'd say 'Have the president send some kind of a signal,'" Paul said. "There was a lot of enthusiasm but he's the leader. The leader needs to lead."
The secret weapon
There was one figure whom Trump seemed to respect above all others: Voight. The star of "Deliverance" and "Midnight Cowboy" had been one of Trump's earliest supporters in Hollywood, speaking at the inauguration rally in 2017 and later hailing him as the "greatest president since Abraham Lincoln."
At a meeting in February, Voight kicked things off with an impassioned speech about the need for federal support. It wasn't just Hollywood that suffered, Voight said. Texas and Georgia — states that overwhelmingly backed Trump — were losing jobs. Voight had met recently with Jack, a freshman congressman from Georgia, whose district included the
Trump was open to a tax credit and Karol had even drafted a statement for Trump to post on Truth Social. But it wasn't the right time to comment on social media. There was too much going on in the Middle East and at home.
Coming out of the February meeting, the team spent months planning for their next mission with a clear goal. Trump had to support the idea publicly. Ahead of a meeting in September, the MPA supplied Voight with
Sitting across from the president, Voight stressed how much Canada has benefitted from runaway production, hoping to sway Trump in the midst of a trade war with his neighbor to the north. Paul told Trump that he was making a movie about former President Richard Nixon but had to shoot it in the UK because the US was too expensive. Trump was outraged.
Voight asked the president to post while they were together. Harp brought over his computer. After Trump posted, he gave Voight and his colleagues a tour of the Rose Garden and a new helipad.
Even with Trump's support, the bill's advocates acknowledge that it might not pass. Congress isn't able to do much right now given the thin majority for the Republicans in each house and the looming midterm elections. A tax break for production wouldn't be a top priority for Democrats if they took control of Congress. There are politicians on both sides who don't want to support this.
The bill's fate rests in the hands of about a dozen people, including the Speaker of the House and the Senate Majority Leader. This is the rare piece of legislation that has the support of Trump and California Senator Adam Schiff – to say nothing of Ilhan Omar and Nancy Pelosi. "This is uncharted territory," said Karol.
Fearful of what would happen if Democrats win control in November, the current plan is to introduce a standalone bill in the coming days, and then fold it into a continuing resolution by the end of the year. The politicians hope to take advantage of the lame-duck session between the November elections and the seating of the new Congress early next year.
