Well, here’s a plot twist nobody saw coming: Donald Trump is now pitching himself as Hollywood’s knight in shining armor. Fresh off a sit-down with acting legend Jon Voight, the former president has declared the entertainment industry “a complete and total disaster” and is calling for sweeping federal tax incentives to rescue it. Because nothing says “Save the movies” quite like a political rallying cry.

According to reports, Trump met with Voight - an outspoken conservative stalwart and one of the few A-listers who’s consistently waved the MAGA flag - to discuss the state of the business. The conversation apparently centered on how the industry has lost its luster, its audiences, and, most importantly, its money. Trump’s prescription? Uncle Sam needs to step in with some serious tax breaks to lure production back to American soil and, presumably, to restore some old-school glamour.

It’s a wild pivot for a man who spent years feuding with the entertainment elite. But the "Apprentice" host turned politician has always had a knack for reading the room - or at least, the headlines. With Hollywood box offices sputtering and streaming giants eating their own lunch, Trump’s talking point isn’t entirely off-base. The industry is in a rough patch, even if his choice of words skews more "reality show confession" than "trade publication analysis."

The Voight Factor

Jon Voight is no stranger to courting controversy with his political opinions. The "Midnight Cowboy" and "Coming Home" star has been a vocal Trump supporter since 2016, often popping up in surprising places to deliver fiery monologues about patriotism and the decline of American values. So it makes total sense that, when Trump wanted to talk shop about Tinseltown, he’d summon one of the few marquee names still willing to pick up the phone.

The meeting reportedly took place in recent days, and while specifics are thin, the takeaway is clear: Trump believes Hollywood is broken, and he wants to be the guy who fixes it. He’s framing the crisis as an economic one - a matter of jobs, tax revenue, and global competitiveness. In his telling, runaway productions are fleeing to Canada, Europe, and even Georgia (the country, not the state) because they’re getting better deals abroad. The solution, he argues, is a federal package that makes filming in the U.S. irresistibly cheap.

But here’s the kicker: While Trump is pushing for federal intervention, the current landscape is already a patchwork of state-level tax credits. California, New York, Georgia, and New Mexico all offer lucrative incentives, and they’ve been fighting each other for years to snag big-budget shoots. Trump’s proposal would effectively federalize the arms race, creating a level playing field that could shift billions in production spend overnight.

An Industry at a Crossroads

Look, there’s no denying the film biz is in a funk. Theaters are still clawing their way back to pre-pandemic numbers, superhero fatigue is real, and the writers’ and actors’ strikes of 2023 left scars that haven’t healed. When Trump says “complete and total disaster,” he’s definitely exaggerating - streaming giants like Netflix and Amazon are still minting money - but he’s also tapping into a genuine sentiment among traditionalists: the magic is gone.

And that’s where Voight likely comes in. If you squint, you can see the pitch: a return to classic storytelling, bigger-than-life stars, and films that make you feel something other than “connected to a franchise.” It’s a romantic vision, and one that plays brilliantly in a campaign-style setting. Trump’s move here is as much about optics as it is about policy. By aligning himself with a beloved Oscar winner and throwing a lifeline to out-of-work crew members, he’s trying to rebrand himself as a savior of American culture - not just its economy or border policy.

Of course, the Hollywood left - which is to say, most of Hollywood - is likely to roll its eyes. Tax incentives don’t fix a creative vacuum, and they certainly don’t address the streaming algorithm’s stranglehold on what gets made. But Trump isn't pitching to the Academy; he’s pitching to the heartland, to independent theater owners, and to below-the-line workers who feel forgotten by the coastal elites.

What Happens Next?

Don’t hold your breath for a bill landing on Congress’s desk anytime soon. This feels more like positioning than policy, a way to keep his name in the cultural conversation as the next election cycle heats up. But the fact that he’s even talking about Hollywood’s plight shows just how far the industry’s reputation has fallen. When the guy who was once roasting "Hamilton" and tweeting about Meryl Streep’s “overrated” talents becomes your best advocate for tax credits, you know the town’s desperate for a win.

As for Voight, he’s probably thrilled to be back in the spotlight with a project that doesn’t require reshoots or green screens. Maybe he sees this as his most important role yet: Hollywood’s unofficial ambassador to Mar-a-Lago.

Whether any of this comes to fruition is anyone’s guess. But one thing’s for sure - the drama off-screen is way more compelling than most of what’s in theaters right now. And honestly? That’s the kind of content we can all get behind.

Source: Public TV English