Washington [US] : Actress and talk show host Whoopi Goldberg has strongly criticized former U.S. President Donald Trump’s proposal to impose a 100% tariff on foreign-produced movies, calling the plan a threat to creative freedom in the film industry.
The proposal, shared by Trump on his Truth Social platform earlier this week, sparked backlash from Hollywood, including Goldberg, who addressed the issue in a recent interview with The Hollywood Reporter.
“Could you please lower the price of eggs before you start this?” Goldberg said, highlighting more pressing domestic economic concerns. She argued that the tariff would limit the ability of filmmakers to shoot in international locations essential to storytelling.
“You can’t do that because what that equates to is you’re going to tell me how to write the story I want to write if it happens in Europe,” she said. “You’re telling me you’re going to charge me for that.”
Goldberg, who starred in The Color Purple, emphasized how important foreign locations are to major films like Gladiator and The Passion of the Christ, stating, “You couldn’t have shot The Passion of the Christ in Texas. You can’t shoot Gladiator without going to Rome.”
She called the film industry global and warned that the tariff could damage not only creativity but also economic prospects. Her co-host on The View, Sunny Hostin, backed her comments, citing the international success of American movies. “The 10 highest-grossing movies last year were all released by U.S. studios,” Hostin noted, arguing that international exposure helps the U.S. economy.
Goldberg also questioned the logistics of implementing such a tariff, asking, “Who are you going to put this tariff on? Is it on the production? The studio? What are you talking about?”
Alyssa Farah Griffin, another co-host and former Trump aide, ridiculed the idea’s implications for foreign-set shows. “Like Emily in Paris, is it going to be Emily in Paris, Texas? Or White Lotus: Mar-a-Lago edition?” she joked.
Goldberg concluded by stating that imposing such a tariff undermines the strength of the U.S. film industry: “If you impose a tax like this, you are saying that we’re not good enough — and that is not the case. We are the best in the world.”
Several other industry figures, including late-night hosts Jimmy Fallon and Jimmy Kimmel, have also voiced criticism of the proposal.