Trump's tariff blitz targets foreign films to save Hollywood's struggling movie industry



President Donald Trump announced Sunday that the United States is moving to impose a hefty tariff on foreign flicks to save the nation's struggling film industry.

Trump stated in a post on Truth Social that he had authorized the Department of Commerce and the 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 key concern, of course, will be how this might affect U.S. movie sales around the world.'

"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," Trump wrote. "This is a concerted effort by other Nations and, therefore, a National Security threat."

He argued that the foreign films pushed "propaganda."

"WE WANT MOVIES MADE IN AMERICA, AGAIN!" Trump declared.

The president told reporters that "Hollywood is being destroyed." He, in part, blamed "grossly incompetent" California Governor Gavin Newsom (D).

"Other nations have been stealing the moviemaking capabilities from the United States," he stated. "If they're not willing to make a movie inside the United States, then we should have a tariff on movies that come in."

In response to Trump's tariff announcement, Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick confirmed that the administration is "on it."

In January, Trump named actors Sylvester Stallone, Mel Gibson, and Jon Voight Hollywood's "special ambassadors," tasked with bringing filmmaking back to the U.S.

"They will serve as Special Envoys to me for the purpose of bringing Hollywood, which has lost much business over the last four years to Foreign Countries, BACK — BIGGER, BETTER, AND STRONGER THAN EVER BEFORE! These three very talented people will be my eyes and ears, and I will get done what they suggest. It will again be, like The United States of America itself, The Golden Age of Hollywood!" Trump stated.

At the time of Trump's announcement, Gibson told Variety, "I got the tweet at the same time as all of you and was just as surprised. Nevertheless, I heed the call. My duty as a citizen is to give any help and insight I can."

A Friday report from Deadline stated that Voight has been meeting with union representatives and studio executives to better understand Hollywood's challenges.

In April, Voight's manager, Steven Paul, told NBC News that Voight planned to soon present Trump with a list of ideas to revive the nation's movie industry. Those proposals reportedly include incentives for infrastructure investments, job training, and tax code alterations.

According to Politico, state Sen. Ben Allen (D) and "a person close to the White House" have attributed the foreign film tariffs to Voight.

Allen told the news outlet, "To be honest, at first blush I generally see this as a positive development. Unlike a lot of the other items on Trump's tariffs list, we know that TV and movies can be made 100% in the USA right now and at a very high caliber."

"The key concern, of course, will be how this might affect U.S. movie sales around the world," he added.

A rep for Voight did not immediately respond to a request for comment from the Rolling Stone.

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‘Family, faith, and grit’: Did Stallone just give Hollywood a knockout punch in new film?



Many films coming out of Hollywood recently have faced heavy criticism, not only for often pushing “woke” values but for being unoriginal — and Dick Boyce aims to change that.

Boyce is an investor and entrepreneur who has co-produced a new film alongside Sylvester Stallone called “Lost on a Mountain in Maine.” The story spans multiple generations and returns cinema to a time before smartphones, helicopter parenting, and digital overload.

“I just found there was an opening to do a movie like Disney used to make. Timeless values of family, faith, and grit that people could relate to,” Boyce tells James Poulos on “Zero Hour,” explaining that the film is about a boy who spent nine days without food or shelter and survived.


The film appears to bridge the divide between the older, less tech-savvy generations and the newer, digital-native generations.

“To tell stories to remind people that there is this continuity, that despite the fact that we’re going through all these iterations of really head-snapping change in many cases, there’s still a thread that’s stronger than that, and it might not be super obvious, but family is part of that,” Poulos comments.

The film also calls into question the impact of technology on these younger generations.

“They aren’t growing up in a way that is the best way, I think, to have a fulfilled, open, engaged life,” Boyce says, adding, “That does concern me about the evolution of technology.”

“There’s always been a lot of focus on the potential harms of technology, and those can be real, as with anything, as with fire. You know, these tools, you can always use them in the wrong way, and it can harm you,” Poulos agrees.

“I think the real question is what are you missing out on if you disappear into the phones, what are you running away from, what are you afraid of, that kind of temptation to willfully step back from real life? I think that’s where the real hazards can be,” he adds.

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Donald Trump wants to save Hollywood. Can he count on 'Superman'?



Donald Trump's recent political comeback was like something out of a Hollywood movie — if Hollywood still made fun, action-packed, patriotic crowd-pleasers, that is.

It's no secret that our once-proud film industry is on the verge of collapse. In order to make the multiplex great again, Trump has assembled a dream team of A-list veterans: Mel Gibson, Sylvester Stallone, and Jon Voight.

This isn't just about the future of comic-book movies — it's about the continued survival of Hollywood itself.

But they're not going to usher in a golden age of American cinema on their own. They've got some high-powered help on their side: namely, Superman.

The American way

Yes, the Man of Steel — one of the most beloved fictional characters in all of cinema and the definitive superhero, instilling the values of hope and kindness with his never-ending fight for “truth, justice, and the American way.”

Like the Trump of four years ago, Superman is an American icon who's seen better days. That could change when he mounts a comeback of his own with writer/director James Gunn's upcoming fresh take on the legend.

The "Guardians of the Galaxy" auteur and DC Studios co-head has promised to get back to Superman's roots, with a portrayal (by David Corenswet, who takes the baton from Henry Cavill) focusing on a hero who is “kindness in a world that thinks that kindness is old-fashioned."

So far so good. But then came Gunn’s recent comments on the film’s teaser trailer, which some fans say are a sign that we're in for something "political."

Here's what Gunn said:

We do have a battered Superman in the beginning [of the teaser trailer]. That is our country. I believe in the goodness of human beings, and I believe that most people in this country, despite their ideological beliefs, their politics, are doing their best to get by and be good people — despite what it may seem like to the other side, no matter what that other side might be. This movie is about that. It’s about the basic kindness of human beings and that it can be seen as uncool and under siege [by] some of the darker voices and some of the louder voices.

Controversial? Hardly.

Refreshing? Absolutely.

From Krypton with love

Gunn has been vocal in the past about his political leaning and his disapproval of Donald Trump. But this premise shows that he, like many others, is far more interested in unity than division, creating a Superman story that focuses on the fact that we are all flawed human beings trying to do our best, even if it doesn’t always seem like it.

This hints that Superman might, out of kindness, do something that will shake the confidence of the people of Metropolis in him and force him to potentially butt heads with other superheroes featured in the film, such as Green Lantern Guy Gardner (Nathan Fillion), Hawkgirl (Isabela Merced), and Mr. Terrific (Edi Gathegi).

It promises a sincere tone that has more in common with Richard Donner’s "Superman: The Movie" than with Zack Snyder’s "Man of Steel"; even going so far as to use a "rock and roll" version of the Donner film's classic John Williams theme.

"Superman" will also feature the live-action film debut of Krypto the Superdog alongside Superman regulars Lois Lane (Rachel Brosnahan), Jimmy Olsen (Skyler Gisondo), Jonathan Kent (Pruitt Taylor Vince), and archenemy Lex Luthor (Nicholas Hoult).

Back issues

If anyone could be expected to harbor some resentment toward the right, it's Gunn. After all, it was a conservative campaign that resurfaced the tasteless tweets that led Disney to fire Gunn. Of course, Gunn landed on his feet, getting picked up by Warner Bros. to direct "The Suicide Squad" for DC. This in turn led to his rehiring by Disney (after he apologized for the tweets) to direct "Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3."

Now he's returned to DC as co-CEO alongside Peter Safran to create a rebooted DC Comics cinematic universe.

That universe will launch with the premiere of "Superman" on July 11.

It seems that after all that’s happened to him, Gunn, like most Americans, has had enough vitriol and partisan sniping.

Hero wanted

Left or right, if you're in the movie biz, you're on the same sinking ship. Which is why everybody has their hopes set on Superman. This isn't just about the future of comic-book movies — it's about the continued survival of Hollywood itself.

Gunn seems to recognize this, determined to make a Superman movie not just for comic-book fans but for all mankind.

While most superhero media over the past several years has been an exercise in retaining brand rights, Gunn's "Superman" seems to have far grander ambitions: to inspire hope and remind us of what unites us, rather than what divides us. In year one of America's new golden age, it's only fitting that our greatest, most enduring hero lead the way.

Sylvester Stallone calls Trump America's 'second George Washington'



Hollywood icon Sylvester Stallone called President-elect Donald Trump America's "second George Washington" during a short speech Thursday night introducing Trump during the America First Policy Institute Gala at the Mar-a-Lago Club.

Stallone began by describing the first scene of his legendary movie "Rocky" with an image of Jesus coming into view — and then as the camera pans out, the audience sees writing below the image of Christ: Resurrection [Athletic Club]. "I found a church that had been converted to a boxing ring," Stallone recalled.

'And I'll just say this, and I mean it: When George Washington defended his country, he had no idea that he was gonna change the world.'

As the camera pans down, the audience sees a pair of boxers going at it in a gritty ring in Philadelphia, just two days before Thanksgiving. The very first image of Rocky is when his opponent socks him in the jaw with a left hook. You can view that first scene here.

“And at that moment, he was a chosen person, and that’s how I began the journey," Stallone continued. "Something was gonna happen. This man was gonna go through a metamorphosis and change lives — just like President Trump.”

When the audience's applause subsided, Stallone added that "we’re in the presence of a really mythical character. I love mythology. And this individual does not exist on this planet. Nobody in the world could have pulled off what [Trump] pulled off, so I’m in awe.”

The actor concluded by saying, “And I'll just say this, and I mean it: When George Washington defended his country, he had no idea that he was gonna change the world. Because without him, you could imagine what the world would look like. Guess what? We got the second George Washington. Congratulations!"

With that, Trump ascended to the stage and shook hands with Stallone. You can check out his speech here.

Deadline reported that Stallone previously had stayed quiet about who he politically endorsed during the 2016, 2020, and 2024 election cycles. The outlet said Stallone indicated that he didn’t vote in presidential elections the prior two cycles.

But Deadline noted that the actor told Variety in 2016 that he “love[s]” Trump and views him as a “great Dickensian character.” Deadline also said Stallone in 2018 was pictured in the Oval Office alongside Trump as he posthumously pardoned former world champion boxer Jack Johnson.

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Tucker Carlson Stuns Lex Fridman by Calling This News Host a ‘Sinister Tool’
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Tucker Carlson Stuns Lex Fridman by Calling This News Host a ‘Sinister Tool’

 

Sylvester Stallone moving from California to Florida, sends daughters to Navy SEAL boot camp in fear of New York City crime



After living in California for decades, Sylvester Stallone has revealed that he is leaving the Golden State and moving to Florida.

Stallone and his wife, Jennifer Flavin Stallone, made the announcement during the Season 2 premiere of "The Family Stallone" reality TV show that aired on Wednesday.

“After long, hard consideration, your mother and I have decided it's time to move on and leave the state of California permanently, and we’re going to go to Florida,” Sylvester announced.

Stallone declared that it's already a "done deal."

Jennifer, 55, explained to her daughters, “It’s an empty nest. I need to change it up.”

The parents became empty nesters after Sophia and Sistine moved in together in New York City and Scarlet began attending the University of Miami.

"I don't feel like this is home anymore," Jennifer said.

"I raised all three of our daughters in California. Everything’s a memory to me, memories of them not being there anymore," Jennifer added. "So I needed a big change, and Sly went along with it."

The "Rocky" actor noted that he has lived in California since 1973.

"We have a lot of roots in California, so it’s not an easy transition to Florida," said the iconic Hollywood actor. "But Jennifer really had her heart set on it. I gave in."

Later in the episode, Stallone met up with his celebrity friends, Jon Lovitz and Henry Winkler, for what he called "my true farewell."

Stallone, 77, and Jennifer have been married for more than 25 years and have three adult daughters — Sophia, Sistine, and Scarlet. Jennifer, 55, filed for divorce in August 2022, but the celebrity couple have since resolved their marital issues.

Other Hollywood celebrities have recently moved out of California, including prolific podcaster Joe Rogan.

Rogan said he left California to move to Texas to get "a little bit more freedom."

"When you look at the traffic, when you look at the economic despair, when you look at the homelessness problem that's accelerated radically over the last six, seven, 10 years, I think there's too many people here," Rogan said of the Los Angeles area.

"I think it's not tenable; I don't think that it's manageable," he continued. "And every mayor does a s**t job of doing it because I don't think anybody could do a great job of it. I think there's certain things you're gonna have to deal with when you have a population of whatever the f*** L.A. is, it's like 20-million-plus people."

Actor Mark Wahlberg moved from California to Nevada to "give my kids a better life" and because it "made a lot more sense for us."

Actor Scott Baio ditched California for Florida after living there for more than 45 years.

"Between the homeless defecating on the sidewalk, doing drugs on the sidewalk in the middle of the day, illegal aliens all over the place, laws means nothing, crime is out of control, graffiti on everything, and all my tax dollars I don't know what they go for," Baio stated.

Comedian Rob Schneider explained why he moved out of California, "I really feel like I don’t want the Democratic Party trying to run my life. And there’s not one aspect of your life that they don’t want to interfere with."

Also in the episode, Stallone was concerned about his two daughters living in New York City because of the high crime rate. The actor took Sophia, 27, and Sistine, 25, to a self-defense training class taught by an ex-Navy SEAL.

  

The Stallone sisters moved to New York City last year, which has caused the "Rambo" actor to stay awake all night worrying about the safety of his daughters.

"My daughters have moved to New York, which is kind of traumatic because I spent many, many years in New York," said Stallone — who lived on the streets in the early 1970s. "Everyday robbery, physical attacking. Cars were coming over curbs. People throwing acid on you. You had to keep your head on a swivel, and I never gotten over that."

You can watch the entire episode of "The Family Stallone" below.

  The Family Stallone | Season 2 Premiere | Full Episode | Paramount+ www.youtube.com 

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Sylvester Stallone says he's protective of his daughters: 'OK, when you're trying to kiss her, it's like you're trying to kiss me at the same time'



Actor Sylvester Stallone, known for playing tough guys on the big screen, told the Wall Street Journal that he's close to his family and protective of his daughters. He indicated that if a boyfriend behaves inappropriately, it is like they have acted against him.

"I know how these guys think. I happen to have been one. It’s nature, but I want to let them know. I say, 'OK, when you’re trying to kiss her, it's like you're trying to kiss me at the same time.' I'm very connected to my family, so if you do something that's inappropriate, it's like you did it to me. And there’s going to be an issue and it's going to be a great deal of pain. I'm incredibly protective over my daughters, because I know it's a dangerous planet," he told the outlet.

The actor has three daughters who are each in their twenties.

Stallone, whose career has spanned decades, is known for films such as the "Rocky" movies and "The Expendables" series, the latter of which has a new installment slated for release later this year in Septmeber.

When the Wall Street Journal interviewer asked about the Rocky statue that Stallone left behind at the home music superstar Adele purchased from him and is renovating, Stallone noted that he had wanted to take the statue, but Adele did not agree. Stallone said that Adele said, "That's a no deal. That's gonna blow the whole deal."

"She wanted the statue," Stallone said, according to the outlet.

Actor Chris Pratt, who has young children, has said that he thinks all dads contemplate how they would respond if someone did anything to their kids.

"I think every dad secretly fantasizes about what they would do if someone ever f***** with their kids," Pratt told Men's Journal. "Your partner sees you staring off into the distance and says, 'Honey, what are you thinking about?' And you say, 'Oh, nothing.' But what you're really thinking is, Where's the duct tape and how deep is the trunk? I think that's most dads. Or maybe that’s just me and I'm revealing something here! But as someone who’s talked to a lot of dads, I think we all ask ourselves what we would do," Pratt said, according to the outlet.

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