POLITICO Nightly: Trump’s Hollywood tariffs are more than just political theater

 

By Ankush Khardori Presented by the American Heart Association A man walks past movie posters at at AMC Theater in Montebello, California on May 5, 2025. | Frederic J. Brown/AFP via Getty Images TINSELTOWN TARIFF — Hollywood was in a panic last night and into the early hours of today after Donald Trump, seemingly out of nowhere, announced that there would be a 100 percent tariff on movies made abroad. “The Movie Industry in America is DYING a very fast death,” Trump said in a statement on Truth Social. He attributed this to filmmaking incentives provided by other countries and described it as “a concerted effort by other Nations and, therefore, a National Security threat.” Hollywood immediately panned the idea and portrayed it as an existential threat to the U.S. film and TV industry. By early afternoon today on the East Coast, the White House seemed to back off, according to a statement provided to the Hollywood Reporter : “Although no final decisions on foreign film tariffs have been made,” a spokesperson said, “the Administration is exploring all options to deliver on President Trump’s directive to safeguard our country’s national and economic security while Making Hollywood Great Again.” Trump’s threat, however, may prove to be more than just political theater. That is because the president’s claim — that there is some sort of “National Security threat” to Hollywood — underscored the unprecedented legal position that the administration has taken to support the bulk of Trump’s proposed tariff regime across all sectors. The administration has largely relied on a once-obscure emergency economic powers law passed in 1977 that is known as the International Economic Emergency Powers Act (IEEPA). The law authorizes the president to take certain actions if he declares a national emergency resulting from an “unusual and extraordinary threat” originating outside the U.S. “to the national security, foreign policy, or economy of the United States.” To support his tariffs, Trump had already declared emergencies concerning the opioid crisis, illegal immigration and — much more broadly — “trade deficits.” Many independent experts generally reject these claims. But the notion that there might be a national security threat resulting from filmmakers producing their movies overseas seemed almost designed to draw attention to the novelty and expansiveness of the administration’s legal position. In fact, the Trump administration’s position would effectively provide the president with carte blanche to institute tariffs anywhere in the world at the drop of a hat. It’s a highly suspect theory that has already drawn at least seven lawsuits to date. Next Tuesday, the most high profile court proceeding on the matter so far will take place, when a panel of three judges on the U.S. Court of International Trade will hold oral arguments on a motion filed on behalf of a group of small business owners seeking to block Trump’s tariffs under IEEPA. It is far from clear what the judges will do, but the same panel is presiding over a separate case brought by 12 Democratic state attorneys general challenging the tariffs. Last week, the judges invited the attorneys general to weigh in on the pending motion filed by the small businesses — a potential sign that they are taking both challenges seriously. Given the court schedule, Trump’s suggestion that he could implement tariffs to save Hollywood from a supposed national security threat — over the industry’s own evidently strenuous objection —may have been ill-timed. You can safely assume that the plaintiffs challenging the Trump tariffs — and maybe even some of the judges presiding over their cases — are taking note of this latest escalation. Welcome to POLITICO Nightly. Reach out with news, tips and ideas at nightly@politico.com . Or contact tonight’s author at akhardori@politico.com .   A message from the American Heart Association: Across America, communities are standing up to Big Soda—and winning. By taking action to remove sugary drinks from SNAP, raise sugary drink excise taxes to lower sales and expose soda companies’ predatory marketing tactics, leaders are protecting kids’ health against powerful corporate interests. The American Heart Association remains committed to curbing sugary drink consumption and protecting families' health.   What'd I Miss? ****DOG KILLER KRISTI NOEM WHO CARRIED AROUND $3,000 CASH & LOTS OF IDENTIFICATION  & MEDICATION SEEMS TO BE PROMOTING THIS STUNT...IS SHE STILL HAVING A RELATIONSHIP WITH COREY LEWANSOWSKI...ASKING FOR A FRIEND...WE'LL JUST HAVE WEALTHY CLOWNS!**** — DHS will offer a $1K stipend to migrants who self-deport: The Department of Homeland Security announced today that undocumented immigrants who self-deport from the U.S. will receive a $1,000 stipend — a measure that seeks to add an incentive to falling in line with the Trump administration’s deportation efforts . The department framed the move as a “historic opportunity” for undocumented immigrants to “receive both financial and travel assistance” when using the Customs and Border Protection’s Home app to facilitate their deportation, according to a statement announcing the initiative. excerpt:  Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem takes questions from the press before boarding her plane to Colombia at Comalapa International Airport on March 26, 2025, in San Salvador, El Salvador. | Pool photo by Alex Brandon The initiative comes as Trump administration officials repeatedly urge migrants to self-deport, threatening to prosecute those who seek to evade immigration law enforcement. Illegal border crossings in the U.S. have plunged to the lowest level in decades since President Donald Trump returned to office in January. Trump has also pushed for a new “gold card” that allows wealthy people who want to obtain a U.S. visa to pay $5 million to get a pathway to citizenship. White House officials have said it would replace the EB-5 visa program, which offers a route for permanent residency for rich foreign investors. — Trump says the US will help ‘get some food’ to Gaza but blames conditions on Hamas: President Donald Trump said today the U.S. would help supply food to people in Gaza while blaming Hamas for the dire humanitarian situation in an enclave that has been devastated by more than 18 months of Israeli bombardments. Trump’s statement during a White House news conference came after Israel approved a plan to take more control of aid delivery as part of an effort to isolate Hamas — alarming the United Nations. REGURGITATING NETANYAHU LIES!  ISRAEL HAS TARGETED AIDE WORKERS, BLOCKAIDED FOOD, WATER, FUEL, MEDICINE...DON'T BLAME ANYONE OTHER THAN ISRAEL!  THE TRUTH IS OUT THERE! excerpt: The president did not address Israel’s aid plan but blamed conditions in Gaza on Hamas, which launched an attack on Oct. 7, 2023, that set off the war. “If you look, Hamas is making it impossible. They are taking everything that’s brought in,” Trump said. “But we’re going to help the people of Gaza because they are being treated very badly by Hamas.” Israel announced in March that it would stop all goods and humanitarian aid from entering Gaza amid failing cease-fire negotiations to end the war. The halt has led to ongoing food and medicine shortages in the territory of 2 million people and sparked widespread concern from humanitarian groups. Israel has argued its aid blockade is lawful and that Gazans have access to necessary supplies. Under the plan, Israel would take control of Gaza’s food and supplies and replace U.N. non-governmental organization kitchens with hubs run by a U.S. security contractor. Cease-fire negotiations between Israel and Hamas collapsed in March, with Israel saying it will not back down until Hamas releases its remaining hostages. — Trump will defend Biden’s abortion pill rules in Texas case: The Trump administration is defending federal regulations allowing abortion pills to be available online and by mail , the Justice Department revealed today. But rather than defending the Food and Drug Administration’s rules for the pills on the merits, the DOJ argued in a filing with a Texas federal court that the three GOP-controlled states suing the agency lack standing and the case should be thrown out. ***GEORGIA SENATE 2026!**** — Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp passes on running for Senate: Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp will not run for Senate in 2026, according to three people familiar with his decision. The popular Republican would have been a prime recruit against first-term Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff. “I have decided that being on the ballot next year is not the right decision for me and my family,” Kemp said in a statement posted on X. “I spoke with President Trump and Senate leadership earlier today and expressed my commitment to work alongside them to ensure we have a strong Republican nominee who can win next November.” ****SEAN DUFFY IS AN INEXPERIENCED  INCOMPETENT BOOB! MAYBE MUSKRAT SHOULDN'T HAVE FORCED OUT MICHAEL WHITAKER WHO GROUNDED SPACEX & LEVIED A FINE FOR THE PREVIOUS SPACE X EXPLOSION....!**** — Army suspends helicopter flights near Reagan National airport after DOT’s complaints about safety: The Army said today it has suspended helicopter flights into the Pentagon , following an incident last week involving a military helicopter flying near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport that prompted air traffic controllers to divert two commercial flights that had been attempting to land. The suspension affects helicopter operations out of the 12th Aviation Battalion, which is tasked with evacuating political VIPs during an emergency, pending an internal inquiry, said Lt. Col. Patrick Husted, spokesperson for the unit that oversees Army operations within the nation’s capital. A Black Hawk helicopter from that same battalion collided with an airliner near Reagan National earlier this year, killing all 67 people on board both aircraft. excerpt:  The Army on Monday said it has suspended helicopter flights into the Pentagon, following an incident last week involving a military helicopter flying near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport that prompted air traffic controllers to divert two commercial flights that had been attempting to land. The suspension affects helicopter operations out of the 12th Aviation Battalion, which is tasked with evacuating political VIPs during an emergency, pending an internal inquiry, said Lt. Col. Patrick Husted, spokesperson for the unit that oversees Army operations within the nation’s capital. A Black Hawk helicopter from that same battalion collided with an airliner near Reagan National earlier this year, killing all 67 people on board both aircraft. According to an email sent by an FAA official Friday, an Army helicopter — also a Black Hawk — “took a scenic route around the Pentagon versus proceeding directly from the west to the heliport” on Thursday, prompting controllers at Reagan National to call for passenger planes to twice abort their landings. The incident sparked the the ire of Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, who on Friday took to social media to call the flight “unacceptable” — and said he’d be talking to the Defense Department “to ask why the hell our rules were disregarded.” Operations at the airport have been under intense scrutiny since the January crash, and its cause remains under investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board. At Duffy’s direction, DOT has already shuttered some helicopter flight routes near the airport, and managers in the control tower at the airport have been reassigned. Last week’s incident additionally sparked bipartisan outrage among lawmakers who are also probing the disaster, among other close calls concerning the airport. “The Army is once again putting the traveling public at risk,” Senate Commerce Chair Ted Cruz (R-Texas) said in an X post Friday. He added that he’s “committed” to crafting legislation that would protect Reagan National travelers. The FAA on Monday did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the Army decision to suspend Pentagon flights. Following the incident, the Army said it had conducted the Thursday helicopter flight “in accordance with published FAA flight routes.” Capt. Victoria Goldfedib, U.S. Army spokesperson, said that Pentagon controllers directed the helicopter to perform a go-around, flying over the helipad — which then prompted Reagan National controllers to take action to “ensure the appropriate deconfliction of airspace.” Goldfedib said the Army “remains committed to aviation safety and conducting flight operations within all approved guidelines and procedures” as the incident remains under investigation.   A message from the American Heart Association:     AROUND THE WORLD Romanian Prime Minister and President of the Social-Democrat ruling party Marcel Ciolacu delivers a press statement as he arrives at the party's headquarters after the first round of the presidential elections in Bucharest, Romania, on May 5, 2025. | Daniel Mihailescu/AFP via Getty Images PM OUT — Romanian Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu said today he would resign, throwing the country into further turmoil after a hard-right candidate easily won the first round of the country’s presidential election . An interim prime minister will be appointed Tuesday morning, local media reported, citing Romania’s presidential administration. Ciolacu has been prime minister since 2023, leading the ruling center-left Social Democratic Party (PSD). PSD’s candidate for president, Crin Antonescu, came third in Sunday’s closely watched election. The second round on May 18 will pit hard-right leader George Simion against independent Bucharest Mayor Nicușor Dan, sidelining Romania’s establishment parties entirely. SQUEEZING PUTIN — Polish President Andrzej Duda said today that he is pressing Donald Trump to ramp up sanctions on Russia to force an end to the war. Trump, Duda said, is the only one who can force Putin to come to the negotiating table. “America can use various economic instruments to force Russia to respect certain actions,” Duda told the Axel Springer Global Reporters Network, which POLITICO is part of. “So if anyone is in a position to force Vladimir Putin to make peace, it is America, the president of the United States.” Duda’s comments reflect the hope of many European leaders who want to see Trump use American leverage with Putin after he has so far only pressured Ukraine to make concessions, including by saying Kyiv will never be part of NATO and advancing peace proposals that would see Ukraine cede control of Crimea. The U.S. and Ukraine signed a minerals deal last week that Trump hoped would be a signal to Putin to accept his terms for peace. FILMED IN AMERICA — Europe’s moviemakers are bracing to be the next industry embroiled in Donald Trump's trade war. The U.S. president pledged Sunday to slap a 100 percent tariff on movies “produced in Foreign Lands,” after governments worldwide have enticed production teams with lucrative tax breaks and lower labor costs. Across the Atlantic, confusion — if not surprise — reigned. “We felt that [cinema] could become a battlefield [amid the trade war]. We're entering the unpredictable,” Pascal Rogard, the president of the French authors’ society SACD, said. "This is contrary to international commitments," he added. Although the criteria on what constitutes a “foreign” production remain unclear and contentious, “the political gesture is in line with what we expected to happen,” a French industry insider who, like others contacted by POLITICO for this story, was granted anonymity to speak freely amid the uncertainty surrounding Trump's plan.   A message from the American Heart Association: Kids in the U.S. drink more than 30 gallons of sugary drinks each year on average—enough to fill a bathtub. Sugary drinks help fuel an epidemic of chronic disease, increasing rates of heart disease, type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure and obesity. It’s no accident – it’s a business model. The soda industry floods social media, video games, streaming services and schools with ads while it fights against proven solutions to reduce consumption—putting profits over people. Across America, communities are taking action to remove sugary drinks from SNAP, raise sugary drink excise taxes to lower sales and demand accountability for aggressive marketing to kids. This work is hard—soda companies spend millions to block them. But local leaders, parents and health advocates refuse to back down. By advocating for smart policies and urging community action, the American Heart Association is committed to curbing sugary drink consumption and protecting families' health.   Nightly Number $9 billion The amount of money that investment firm 3G Capital is spending to acquire the sneakers brand Skechers . The firm plans to take the company private.   POLITICO IS BACK AT THE 2025 MILKEN GLOBAL CONFERENCE: From May 4–7, California Playbook will deliver exclusive, on-the-ground coverage from the 28th Annual Milken Institute Global Conference. Get behind-the-scenes buzz, standout moments, and insights from leaders in AI, finance, health, philanthropy, geopolitics, and more. Subscribe now for your front-row seat to the conversations shaping our world.     RADAR SWEEP HOTLINE RING — Despite how ingrained the internet has become in society today, there’s still millions of people in the U.S. — and billions globally — who don’t use it. Cost, desire, lack of access and religion are a few of the reasons why. So, instead of turning to Google, some call (334) 844-4244. That’s the number to the James E. Foy Information Desk at Auburn University, where students have been answering questions from the public since 1953 . Some callers want to know who the most famous person in the world is or Costco’s customer service number. Others just want to talk, writes Emily McCrary for Oxford American.   Cut through policy complexity and turn intelligence into action with POLITICO’s Policy Intelligence Assistant—a new suite of tools designed to save you time and demonstrate your impact more easily than ever—available only to Pro subscribers. Save hours, uncover critical insights instantly, and stay ahead of the next big shift. Power your strategy today— learn more .     Parting Image On this date in 2012: A face of Karl Marx is seen through a hole in a banner as people march to protest against the Spanish government’s tough new labor reforms and cutbacks planned by the conservative Popular Party of Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy, in Pamplona, northern Spain. | Alvaro Barrientos/AP Did someone forward this email to you?  Sign up here .   Follow us on X Charlie Mahtesian @PoliticoCharlie Calder McHugh @calder_mchugh   Follow us

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