Donald Trump Urges Congress To Pass Federal Film & TV Tax Incentive

As networks reported on a highly unusual nationwide ground stop of all flights in the United States, Donald Trump made another pitch for Congress to pass a federal film & TV tax incentives.

On Truth Social, Trump listed the bipartisan group of lawmakers who support the 20% incentive, even naming one of his frequent political adversaries, Sen. Adam Schiff (D-CA).

Trump wrote, “I am working with Senator Tim Scott and, believe it or not, Senator Adam Schiff, and, additionally, Senators John Cornyn, Raphael Warnock, Steve Daines, Bernie Moreno, Tim Sheehy, Alex Padilla, Mark Warner, Thom Tillis, Chris Coons, Katie Britt, and Dick Durbin, together with Representatives Jason Smith, Nathaniel Moran, Brian Jack, Linda Sanchez, and many others, both Republican and Democrat, on the Motion Picture, Television, and Entertainment Revitalization Act. The support and popularity of doing this, and bringing Entertainment back to the United States of America, has been unbelievable! Hollywood, and so many other places, have been virtually “emptied out” by the Tax Incentives, and much more, given by other Countries. Everyone feels strongly about the Motion Picture and Television Industry — and so do I, and we all want to save it. It was MADE IN AMERICA, and must STAY IN AMERICA.”

Since Democrats sweep of the midterms, taking control of both chambers of Congress, there has been concern that the legislation will stall out, as Republicans focus on a long list of priorities in the remaining weeks during the lame duck until new lawmakers are sworn. One of the strategies has been that the legislation, introduced earlier this fall, will be attached to end-of-the-year funding legislation. But that may come in the form of just kicking the can down the road a few months or even another government shutdown as both sides reach an impasse.

Another worry has been over the cost, with the Joint Committee on Taxation yet to release its estimate. The Cato Institute estimated it to cost between $33 billion and $49 billion. But supporters had already released their own studies emphasizing that the incentives will bring back much more in economic activity to states. Trump also emphasized the business and labor positive impact.

Trump wrote, “The Entertainment Industry has largely moved to Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, and other countries, but the actors, producers, and all others involved want to come back home! Importantly, hundreds of thousands of Blue Collar Workers will be positively affected, BIG TIME, by the passage of this Bill. The amount of money spent on these Tax Incentives will be made up tenfold by the money pouring into the Treasury’s coffers.”

He added that meetings are being set up with leaders of both parties to “get this done!”

He added, “It is a very Bipartisan undertaking, especially in that so much of the money being lost to other countries is coming out of the Blue States. Hopefully Republicans and Democrats will get together and finalize this already very actively negotiated Legislation. It can be done quickly, accurately, efficiently and, importantly, will benefit all of America. MAKE OUR ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY GREAT AGAIN!”