“The View” co-host Whoopi Goldberg had a heated exchange regarding President Donald Trump’s proposed Hollywood tariff during Tuesday’s episode.
Goldberg expressed her concerns about the impact of such a plan, saying, “If this happens in Europe, it could alter how stories are told. If I publish my book and you want to adapt it, you’d have to show me the way you envision it.” She remarked on the high costs of filming in California, noting that she often chooses to shoot in Canada. “That’s not to say money is the only issue, but I once faced a similar dilemma with ‘The Passion of the Christ.’ In Texas, it wasn’t feasible. And let’s be honest, you can’t film something like ‘Gladiator’ without going to Rome.”
Trump had announced Monday that he had given the green light to the Commerce Department and U.S. trade representatives for this initiative.
He named Sylvester Stallone, Mel Gibson, and Jon Voight as special ambassadors for the industry.
Voight, along with Trump’s Hollywood Ambassador Stephen Paul, proposed a “comprehensive plan” aimed at revitalizing the film and television sector. They had discussions with numerous major film and television organizations to identify potential changes that could enhance domestic production.
Goldberg continued to voice her disapproval, criticizing the Trump administration’s approach, stating, “At the end of the day, it boils down to tax incentives. If you want to make a change, you need to do it at the state level. We should be encouraged to film here in the U.S.; restricting us just drives us abroad.” She further emphasized the global impact of American films, claiming they play a vital role in cultural representation and language learning. “If you impose these kinds of taxes, it undermines our position. We offer great value and creativity,” she added.
Goldberg firmly stated that Trump does not represent American values, asserting, “We don’t want this.”
California Governor Gavin Newsom, in a social media post, expressed intrigue regarding the president’s vision, writing, “California has developed a strong film industry, and we’re prepared to bring more work back home. We’ve shown we can create robust state incentives—now we need genuine federal partnerships for American filmmaking.”
