BURSTOscar-winning actor Jon Voight, 86, says he suggested the idea for tariffs on films made in other countries before President Trump floated the proposal on social media over the weekend.
"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 — some provisions that could be extended and others that could be revived or instituted," Voight said in a video statement Monday evening.
"This would help the movie and television production and our beloved theaters that are so important to the American family experience," he added.
Trump sent shockwaves through the entertainment industry on Sunday after announcing he had directed key members of his team to initiate hefty tariffs on movies produced in other countries. The White House appeared to walk back the threat on Monday, describing it as an idea that the administration is "exploring."
"Our film industry has been decimated,” Trump told reporters Monday. “It has abandoned the USA."
The president tapped Voight, along with actors Mel Gibson, 69, and Sylvester Stallone, 78, to serve as "special ambassadors" to the entertainment industry at the start of his second term in January and tasked them with addressing Hollywood's decline to foreign production.
The "Deliverance" star said in the video released to reporters Monday night that Trump — also a former reality TV star — "loves the entertainment industry," and wants to see Hollywood "bigger and greater than ever before."
"Our industry recently has suffered greatly over these past few years, and many Americans have lost jobs to productions that have gone overseas," Voight said. "It's been very serious."
The plan that he presented to Trump, along with the actor's dire assessment of filmmaking in the U.S., calls for "tariffs in certain limited circumstances," as well as incentives for domestic-made movies.
"(Trump)'s a great businessman, a leader and a caring person that will always do the right thing for this country, the people and our beloved entertainment industry," he said.
Trump had announced Sunday evening on Truth Social that he was "authorizing the Department of Commerce, and the United States 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 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," the president continued. "Hollywood, and many other areas within the U.S.A., are being devastated."