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How Donald Trump Will Change American Cinema
Will he succeed in making "Hollywood Great Again"?
January 24th, 2025
On January 20, 2025, the White House will welcome a new tenant. Not an unknown figure, but rather a familiar face ready to settle in again and give the walls a fresh coat of paint. Donald Trump is the 47th President of the United States, beginning his second term after the four years he spent in office from 2017 to 2021. A period that transformed the face of America, sparking a love-hate relationship that transcended oceans, making him a figure admired or feared worldwide. Americans have now decided to entrust him with another four years of their lives. Their destiny will likely change again under the economic and social policies of the businessman. The same applies to Hollywood and the entertainment industry, which must brace for another encounter with a figure particularly opposed by the cultural establishment, as depicted in the 2024 biographical film The Apprentice and ominously foreshadowed in the apocalyptic Civil War. However, the atmosphere seems different this time around, with Hollywood showing less resistance or willingness to confront the new President. Consider what happened during one of the much-anticipated award season events organized by Variety, the Actors on Actors, which excluded Sebastian Stan, star of Ali Abbasi's film. Reportedly, no one agreed to engage in the customary one-on-one discussion with the actor due to his portrayal of Trump in The Apprentice.
A defeat, given how some personalities, who might have previously rallied against the politician, chose to stay silent, perhaps out of caution or to avoid fueling already rampant intolerance. Jeremy Strong, co-star of The Apprentice as lawyer Roy Cohn, expressed his disappointment: «Not being embraced by the industry has been really tough». The Hollywood Reporter questioned the deafening silence from directors, actors, and celebrities following the Republican nominee's victory, especially from those who had organized events supporting his opponent, Kamala Harris—like Beyoncé and Taylor Swift—or issued public appeals in her favor, such as George Clooney. Since November 5, 2024, not a single word has been spoken, unlike in 2016, when Jennifer Lawrence urged people not to be discouraged by Trump's win, or in 2019, when De Niro openly called Trump a racist. In most cases, the reasoning likely lies behind economic dynamics and the fear of losing cultural or industrial standing. Unless you're part of the billionaire group, like Mark Zuckerberg and Jeff Bezos, who backed Trump's return, silence seems a safer option to avoid repercussions. According to THR, independent producers expressed concern. «When I saw the results and Trump had won - revealed an anonymous source - I just wanted to put my head on the desk and cry. Though, business-wise, we have to wait and see how much really changes». Australian producer Jim Robison of Lunar Pictures stated: «When we come to America, it feels like going to Europe: we have to deal with different states to handle rebates and support, and frankly, there's a lot of confusion in the U.S.».
The Motion Picture Association (MPA)—the group representing the interests of major film studios—released a statement saying it looks forward to working on «a wide range of issues important to the film, television, and streaming industry, supporting over 2.7 million American jobs, driving more than 240,000 businesses in towns and cities nationwide, and providing over $242 billion in wages to our workforce every year». A calmer perspective compared to others but one to watch closely to understand the direction of the coming years. This controversial sequel, Donald Trump—The Return, must also be put into perspective. These have not been easy years for Hollywood: starting with the pandemic, followed by the 2023 writers' and actors' strikes, and culminating in the aftermath of Los Angeles wildfires currently causing $250 billion in damages. The Financial Times article Will a weakened Hollywood embrace Trump 2.0? analyzed how the industry and box office are vastly different compared to Trump’s 2016 victory. The global box office had reached $36 billion, a solid $10 billion higher than the new decade’s figures. However, some producers, according to Christopher Grimes’ article, view the President’s second term as an advantage for their business negotiations. For David Zaslav, CEO of Warner Bros. Discovery, Trump’s leadership could create a better environment for his work, potentially having a «positive and accelerated impact» on companies like his. A sentiment «consistent with all industry CEOs», as noted by another Hollywood agent cited by the Financial Times. This might speed up agreements, potentially benefiting the same CEOs that actors and writers protested against just two years ago, halting an entire industry.
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— Father Founding (@_FatherFounding) January 16, 2025
Trump announces new envoys to Hollywood, to help "MAKE HOLLYWOOD GREAT AGAIN." pic.twitter.com/dR2FPKeGKl
It seems the changes may be not only financial but also cultural, with a Hollywood potentially bending to new policies, altering its cinematic and television offerings. A humorous example comes from the opening sketch of Saturday Night Live following the tycoon’s victory: after a series of skits mocking Trump in recent times (and beyond), cast members ironically pledged allegiance to the new President, claiming they didn’t deserve to end up on a hypothetical blacklist because they all voted for him. Meanwhile, even before settling back into the Oval Office, Trump has already formed a special team to address some production issues Hollywood has faced in recent years. This team includes Sylvester Stallone, Mel Gibson, and Jon Voight, actors who have consistently supported the businessman. Stallone attended a gala at Mar-a-Lago last November for the newly elected President, calling him the “second George Washington.” Gibson had criticized Kamala Harris’s abilities in the past, while Voight shared his admiration for Trump in a 2024 Variety cover story. The trio’s mission seems to be bringing investments back to U.S. soil, as productions have often opted to move overseas, with the incoming President confirming it’s a new era for cinema, one worthy of its golden age. In short: Make Hollywood Great Again.