Officials say administration ‘exploring all options’ after president declared 100% tariff on non-US-produced films
“Although no final decisions on foreign film tariffs have been made
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,” White House spokesperson Kush Desai said
The US president had announced the tariffs on his Truth Social platform, claiming he had authorized “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”.
Trump offered few details on how such a trade penalty would work
but warned that the US film industry was “DYING a very fast death” and said that there was a “concerted effort” by other countries to offer “all sorts of incentives to draw our filmmakers and studios away from the United States” – which he said was a “national security threat”
Commerce secretary Howard Lutnick responded on X on Sunday evening
The announcement sent shockwaves through the entertainment industry
On Monday, shares in US streaming platforms and production companies dropped as uncertainty loomed
especially because Trump’s post did not say whether the tariffs would apply to films distributed on streaming platforms
Netflix shares were down 1.7% by early afternoon
Warner Bros Discovery and Paramount dropped 1.1% and 1% respectively
In Australia and New Zealand, which serve as major production hubs for global franchises such as the Lord of the Rings series, its Tolkienesque cousin The Hobbit, and various Marvel films, lawmakers in those countries responded that they would advocate for their respective film industries
Australia’s home affairs minister, Tony Burke, said that he had spoken with the head of the government body Screen Australia about the proposed tariffs and that “nobody should be under any doubt that we will be standing up unequivocally for the rights of the Australian screen industry.”
said: “We’ll have to see the detail of what actually ultimately emerges
great champion of that sector in that industry.”
warning tens of thousands of freelance jobs could be at risk
The announcement on Sunday follows Trump’s earlier pledges to revitalize the US film industry. But early on Monday afternoon, the White House began walking back Trump’s announcement, according to the Hollywood Reporter
Just before taking office, Trump appointed actors Jon Voight
Sylvester Stallone and Mel Gibson as “special ambassadors” to Hollywood tasked with bringing the industry back “bigger
The Associated Press reported that it is common for major blockbusters and smaller productions to film scenes in the US as well as internationally. Big-budget projects often span multiple countries.
Read moreFor years, according to the AP, incentive programs have influenced where films are made
increasingly driving film production away from California to states and countries offering more favorable tax incentives
According to FilmLA, a non-profit that tracks production in the Los Angeles area, film and television production in LA has dropped by nearly 40% over the past decade
Trump’s announcement on Sunday comes after he triggered a trade war with China, and imposed global tariffs
unsettling global markets and sparking fears of a potential US recession
In April, China, which is currently the world’s second-largest film market after the US, responded to Trump’s tariffs on Chinese products by reducing the quota of American movies allowed into the country
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The Cobb County Courthouse complex in Marietta
This image provided by the Cobb County Sheriff’s Office shows Hector David Sagastume Rivas
(Cobb County Sheriff’s Office via AP)
ATLANTA (AP) — The man charged in a slaying in suburban Atlanta that the Trump administration highlighted in support of its tough immigration stance pleaded not guilty Monday to charges of murder and rape
Hector David Sagastume Rivas was scheduled to appear in a Cobb County courtroom on Tuesday
he waived formal arraignment and entered the plea
A message for Fudger was not immediately returned
Rivas also pleaded not guilty to charges of aggravated assault
aggravated sexual battery and necrophilia in the attack on 52-year-old Camillia Williams
who was strangled in Marietta some time late on the night of March 11 or in the early morning hours of March 12
Marietta is about 20 miles (32 km) north of Atlanta
illegally in March 2021 and was arrested by border patrol agents before being released with a notice to appear in court
Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency
The agency said a judge had ordered his removal in 2025
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said Rivas “should have never been in our country in the first place,” and she and President Donald Trump were “putting the safety of Americans FIRST.”
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt called the slaying “horrific” at a news conference in April and said it reflected the Biden administration’s lax border enforcement policies
Williams was a mother and grandmother whose family said she had moved to metro Atlanta from Louisiana
Her brother, Arsene Williams, told WAGA-TV he believes his sister would still be alive if Rivas had been deported
Associated Press writer Jeff Martin contributed to this report
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WASHINGTON - The White House on Friday posted an image of President Donald Trump dressed as the pope on X
sparking both backlash and glee on social media
The picture comes after Trump jokingly told reporters earlier this week that he’d like to be the next leader of the Roman Catholic Church following Pope Francis’ death
“That would be my number one choice,” he said at the time
The image shows Trump dressed in a white garment wearing a pope’s hat and a necklace with a cross hanging around his neck
He is sitting in a chair with his index finger pointed upwards
The image was also shared on Trump’s Truth Social and Instagram accounts on Friday
The Republicans Against Trump account shared the photo on X with the caption, “Donald Trump just posted a photo of himself as the Pope
Another user wrote on X, “I'm not American
But as a human being I am beyond offended by this image
and that someone in The White House actually CHOSE to repost this
“Trump!! “ one user wrote on X with a laughing emoji
Contributing: Mike Snider, Anthony Robledo, and John Bacon, USA TODAY
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“The Trump administration has seriously backtracked on the April 2 announcement, including a delay while negotiations take place and exempting major categories of imports,” said Tom Essaye, founder and president of Sevens Report Research, in a note Monday. As an example of tariff exemptions, Essaye pointed to computer chips, electronics, pharmaceuticals and automobiles.
Dan Gooding is a Newsweek reporter based in New York City
His focus is reporting on immigration and border security
He has covered immigration issues extensively
including the root causes of migration to the U.S.
its impact on border communities and responses around the country
Dan joined Newsweek in 2024 from The Independent and previously worked at The Messenger
He is a graduate of De Montfort University in Leicester
You can get in touch with Dan by emailing d.gooding@newsweek.com
either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter
or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources
Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content
The Trump administration announced Monday that it will pay illegal immigrants to self-deport rather than await arrest by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)
Those without legal status whom the administration says should not remain in the country could be paid as much as $1,000 if they use the CBP Home app to record their departure.
The administration began encouraging those without legal status to self-deport in early March
Figures on how many migrants have taken the White House up on that offer have
DHS said it was offering the stipend to those who prove they have made it back to their home country
As the federal government seeks to remove millions of those without legal status
including those whose Biden-era protections were revoked in recent months
it called self-deportation a "dignified way to leave the U.S."
and removing each immigrant is around $17,121
meaning the department could potentially save millions of dollars if the stipend entices enough people to deport themselves
Nearly two months on from CBP Home's launch
figures on self-deportation have not been made public
but the department said in its Monday announcement that an immigrant recently used the feature to leave Chicago for Honduras
while other tickets had been purchased also
It sought to incentivize 457,000 illegal immigrants from five cities to leave the country
have offered financial incentives in the past for those who choose to self-deport
others failed to generate large numbers of volunteers
the administration said again that those who self-deport could then be allowed back into the U.S
though it is not clear how or if that would be possible
For the majority of those found to have entered the country illegally
As the second Trump administration marked 100 days
it announced that around 47,000 immigrants not previously registered with the government had done so under the Alien Registration Requirement (ARR)
Many of those will likely be expected to leave the country or face tougher penalties
policy analyst at the Migration Policy Institute
told Newsweek: "I fully expect that departures reported through the app will be counted towards the Trump administration's deportations tally
which is reportedly not as high as the president would like it to be
It appears that the Trump administration is on track to deport roughly half a million noncitizens in its first year
from the Oval Office on Monday: "We're going to get them a beautiful flight back to where they came from
with a little work they can come back in."
in a press release: "If you are here illegally
safest and most cost-effective way to leave the United States to avoid arrest
DHS is now offering illegal aliens financial travel assistance and a stipend to return to their home country through the CBP Home App
This is the safest option for our law enforcement
aliens and is a 70% savings for US taxpayers
Download the CBP Home App today and self-deport."
ET: This article has been updated with comment from Kathleen Bush-Joseph
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground
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(WPDE) — The White House posted an AI-generated photo of U.S
President Donald Trump depicted as the pope
Trump first released the photo on Truth Social Friday night
The image depicts Trump in papal attire with a crucifix around his neck
He's sitting on the coronation chair and pointing
SEE MORE: Vatican conclave to elect new pope shrouded in mystery, set for May 7
Just hours after Trump shared the photo on his social media platform
the White House later shared it on their Instagram profile and X on Saturday morning
The photo is met with both positive and negative comments
Some from the Catholic community are saying the post is "disrespectful."
Pope Francis passed away on Easter Monday at 88
The conclave will begin the process of electing a new pope on May 7
Ksenia Karelina met with Trump in the Oval Office on Monday afternoon
Karelina was convicted in August 2024 and sentenced to 12 years in prison on charges stemming from a donation of about $52 to a charity aiding Ukraine
She was arrested in the Ural Mountains city of Yekaterinburg in February
citizenship after marrying an American and moving to Los Angeles
but had returned to Russia to visit her family at the time of her arrest
"American Ksenia Karelina is on a plane back home to the United States," Sec
of State Marco Rubio wrote on X upon news of her release
"She was wrongfully detained by Russia for over a year and President Trump secured her release
POTUS will continue to work for the release of ALL Americans."
UFC President Dana White played an unexpected diplomatic role in helping Trump secure the release of Karelina
the president told reporters in the Oval Office back in April
a dual German-Russian citizen who was arrested in 2023 in Cyprus at the request of the U.S
for allegedly exporting sensitive microelectronics to Russia
The National News Desk's Alexx Altman-Devilbiss contributed to this report
(WLNE) — A bipartisan attempt to rebuke President Donald Trump over his trade policy fell short in the senate
with Vice President JD Vance breaking a tie
Rhode Island Democratic senator Sheldon Whitehouse and GOP senator Mitch McConnell were expected to support the resolution but they weren’t present for the vote
The resolution would have effectively blocked Trump’s global tariffs by revoking the emergency order he used to enact them
Senate Majority Leader John Thune took action to kill any effort to bring up the resolution for another vote
The resolution would have eventually failed in the house due to Speaker Mike Johnson’s provision that prohibits consideration of the measure through September 30
ABC6 reached out to Senator Whitehouse’s office for comment
and a spokesperson said Senator Whitehouse was in Korea at the “Our Ocean Conference.”
The senator expressed America’s continued support for the blue economy
even as the Trump administration cedes leadership on the oceans to the rest of the world
Advocates for ideas and draws conclusions based on the interpretation of facts and data
I stood in the East Room of the White House
surrounded by fellow female athletes and aspiring young girls behind the president as he signed his Keeping Men Out of Women's Sports executive order
It was a moment that seemed all but impossible a few years ago
watching as common sense began returning to America
young female athletes can live out their dreams in a new era with a champion looking out for them
I've seen firsthand what happens when this isn't the case—and if it weren't for this president
One of the first real tests of President Trump's commitment to protecting us came in February when news broke that a biologically male high school pole vaulter in Maine won first place at the State Championship
stories like that one were becoming all too common throughout America
the Left spent the last four years trying to normalize moments just like it
it had a significant advantage when pushing its alternate reality: a president who was fully on board
Democratic leaders learned the hard way that they no longer have an ally in the White House helping to advance their deranged agenda
When Maine Governor Janet Mills visited the White House following the pole vaulting state championship
President Trump took the chance to publicly call her out for not doing enough to protect girls in her state
I was proud to be there when Gov. Mills got her wish, standing with Attorney General Pam Bondi and Education Secretary Linda McMahon as they announced the administration's new lawsuit against the state of Maine for failing to keep men out of women's sports
That's just one of many examples of what this administration has done on behalf of girls and women
Actions like the Maine lawsuit have a tone-setting effect throughout the country
Many of the worst culprits on this issue are backpedaling fast
has claimed it will comply with Trump's "two-gender policy" and keep men out of women's athletics
The fact that it is at least pretending to do something to protect female athletes shows that the tide has turned in President Trump's first 100 days back in office
This is a winning issue for the Right, and many on the Left know it, even the most radical. California Gov. Gavin Newsom went from a public advocate for men invading women's sports to publicly cowering from the issue altogether
Now he's finding out that lip service is not enough for the Trump administration
as Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins and Education Secretary McMahon announced they will hold Newsom to his word
That is how you protect young girls in America
the future looks brighter for young female sports stars
these girls now have advocates at the top who are going to bat for them
not for those seeking to crush their dreams
more wins have been put on the board for girls and women than in all of Biden's presidency
Expect much more to come with President Trump at the helm
Riley Gaines is a former All-American Swimmer
and host of OutKick's Gaines for Girls podcast
The views expressed in this article are the writer's own
The White House appeared to walk back an announcement by President Donald Trump that he would slap 100% tariffs on foreign-produced films to boost Hollywood
A White House statement on May 5 said that "no final decisions on foreign film tariffs have been made" after Trump's declaration made waves in the entertainment industry
Trump posted on social media May 4 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 president said he was concerned incentives luring filmmakers overseas are sending the American movie industry to "a very fast death."
Although Trump said his team was moving forward on the tariffs
White House spokesman Kush Desai seemed to temper that in the May 5 statement that no final decision has been made
while also saying " 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."
The statement added more confusion to an announcement that already was drawing questions about how the tariffs would be implemented and what exactly they would apply to
It was unclear if the tariffs would apply to movies on streaming services as well as those shown in theaters
or if they would be calculated based on production costs or box office revenue
Trump said on May 5 during an event in the Oval Office that his administration would first consult the movie industry
Film news for you: Sign up for USA TODAY's Watch Party newsletter for more Hollywood insights
"I want to make sure they're happy with it," he said
Trump complained about moviemaking going overseas
but said "I'm not looking to hurt the industry
The announcement about the movie industry comes as Trump has levied a slew of tariffs on various countries and industries
The tariffs have spooked investors and unsettled the economy
More: How much money did Trump make in first 100 days? Crypto deals raise questions
saying he wants to give car companies "a little bit of flexibility." He also paused big reciprocal tariffs on every foreign nation
Trump raised concerns about national security and foreign propaganda in announcing the movie tariffs
This is a concerted effort by other Nations and
film and television industry has "a positive balance of trade in every major market in the world," with exports more than three times imports
The industry has a trade surplus of $15.3 billion and supports 2.3 million jobs
Movie and TV production has been leaving Hollywood for years
heading to locations with tax incentives that make filming cheaper
producers on movie and TV projects with budgets of more than $40 million went outside the United States
Governments around the world have increased credits and cash rebates to attract productions and capture a greater share of the $248 billion that Ampere Analysis predicts will be spent globally in 2025 to produce content
Trump complained that "Other Countries are offering all sorts of incentives to draw our filmmakers and studios away from the United States."
On May 5, leaders in Australia and New Zealand responded to Trump's tariff announcement by saying they would advocate for their local industries
Some Marvel superhero movies have been filmed in Australia
while New Zealand was the backdrop for "The Lord of the Rings" films
The potential elimination of Section 8 housing vouchers and roughly 40% cuts to rental assistance were included in a recent White House request to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)
The cuts, first reported by NPR
target core HUD programs like Section 8 vouchers
replacing them with block grants to states
The White House described the current system as “dysfunctional” and said that states should be allowed to “design their own rental assistance programs based on their unique needs and preferences.”
The plan would also cap rental aid for able-bodied adults at two years
reallocating any remaining funds toward elderly and disabled recipients
Housing advocates say the proposed cuts could cause a dramatic increase in homelessness
Kim Johnson of the National Low Income Housing Coalition told NPR that she thinks “homelessness [could] escalate in a way that has been really unprecedented
only about one in four eligible households receives rental aid
“Cutting that really feels like cutting into bone,” said Ann Oliva
CEO of the National Alliance to End Homelessness
Oliva also raised alarms about proposed changes to homelessness funding
which would reduce local control and prioritize short-term shelters over permanent housing
“Homelessness is a very local issue,” she said
it happens on city blocks and in city streets.”
states would have more discretion over how federal housing funds are used — but less money to work with
NPR noted that similar block grant programs
have often been redirected away from direct aid
States could theoretically supplement the lost federal funding with their own resources
Jessica Kubicki of The Housing Collective in Connecticut warned of ripple effects
She pointed to increased demand for emergency rooms
They don’t have food,” Kubicki said of children most in need of assistance
The newly released federal budget proposal also calls for eliminating programs that support affordable housing development, fair housing enforcement and community improvement grants
The administration argues that these funds have been misused
citing projects like “skate parks and concert plazas.”
In the meantime, COVID-era emergency housing vouchers are running out faster than expected due to rising rents
HUD has warned local agencies to prepare for that funding to end as early as next year
The Trump administration has already pushed out thousands of HUD employees and canceled contracts that support low-income housing — signaling a broader pullback from federal housing support
A report published last month by The New York Times also pointed to the administration’s intent to drastically cut Section 8
In March, a bipartisan group of lawmakers from the House of Representatives and the Senate introduced a bill that seeks to expand Section 8
Citing the federal budget uncertainty, the Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles announced in March that it has stopped accepting new applications for Section 8 vouchers
and website in this browser for the next time I comment
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it’s fair to say that you’ll have plenty of opinions regarding the properties you show buyers
even thousands of listings at a wide variety of price points
you’ll cultivate a personal opinion about properties
sometimes within seconds of stepping over the threshold
But when should you share your opinion with a buyer
It’s not always appropriate to tell them what you think
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Patton acknowledged violations of the Hatch Act
which is meant to bar federal employees from partisan political activity on the job
The White House did not respond to multiple requests for comment
Tim Murtagh, a spokesman for the Trump campaign, defended the handling of the video at the time. “All interview subjects were fully aware of the purpose of the interviews,” he told The New York Times in August
“Lynne Patton was acting in her own personal capacity.”
Not everyone thought the penalty matched the crime. The Project on Government Oversight criticized the special counsel’s office for “singling” out Patton — the only Black woman among the 17 Trump administration officials it found to have violated the Hatch Act during Trump’s first term.
Transparent news, distilled views, and global perspectives.
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Addressing lightsaber colors, ‘Star Wars’ creator George Lucas once said, “Good guys are green and blue, bad guys are red”
Yuri Gripas/Abaca/Bloomberg via Getty; The White House/X
, opens new tab"He called me up yesterday - he said let's make a deal," Trump told reporters at the White House after a televised Cabinet meeting.Trump said Carney "couldn't have been nicer and I congratulated him." He said the Canadian leader would come to the White House within a week.Trump said this week's Canadian election sends a "very mixed signal because it's almost even
which makes it very complicated for the country
It's pretty tight race."Reporting by Trevor Hunnicutt and Doina Chiacu
Editing by Franklin Paul and Chizu Nomiyama
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The White House says it is “exploring all options” to “Make Hollywood Great Again”
The White House on Monday said “no final decisions” have been made on hitting foreign films with a 100% tariff
according to a statement shared with TheWrap
The update came just one day after President Trump said he would impose the stiff tariff to help save a “dying” entertainment industry
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,” White House spokesman Kush Desai said
Desai’s statement came less than 24 hours after the president said he will impose a 100% tariff on “any and all” films made outside the United States
messaging and propaganda!” President Trump said on Truth Social on Sunday
I am authorizing the Department of Commerce
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
Several major entertainment companies saw their share prices take slight hits on Monday morning right after the markets opened
but investors did not seem too worried about the 100% tariff
Netflix’s stock was down 1.68% about two hours into trading on Monday
while Paramount’s share price dipped 1.10%; Lionsgate suffered the biggest drop of the morning
seeing its share price decline 5.58% a few hours into trading
before reversing course and making minor gains by about noon ET
That stock action came as the S&P 500 declined 0.41% and the Nasdaq was down 0.65% a few hours into trading
The president’s Sunday announcement also came as domestic production has slowed down in recent years, with on-location shooting in Los Angeles County dropping 22% year-over-year in the first quarter of 2025
President Trump’s plan has also raised some questions
including whether TV series filmed abroad will also be hit by the tariff
President Trump over the weekend said he has trade deals lined up with multiple countries and that they may be announced this week
He also told “Meet the Press” the current 145% tariff on Chinese imports will be reduced
and they want to do business very much,” Trump said