Daniel Bekerman, producer of the Donald Trump film The Apprentice, gave a lengthy statement to The Hollywood Reporter with his take on Donald Trump’s planned 100% tariff on foreign-made movies. While many see Trump’s plan as an economic tool to bring more jobs and moviemaking back to Hollywood and the United States, Beckerman sees it more as Trump’s way of protecting his image as the skilled deal maker who’s always on the attack and counter-attack. “When it comes to Trump talking about film tariffs in the film industry, now he’s actually come home because this industry is where his skill set resides,” Beckerman told the Hollywood Reporter. In Bekerman’s eyes, Trump combating the Hollywood film industry makes perfect sense, given that the industry is filled with actors, filmmakers, and business moguls who are all constantly making similar attempts at protecting their self-image.

“Tariffs … are a narrative tool that supports his story that he’s been telling for 50 years since he met Roy Cohn”, explains Bekerman, “And the story is about the character named Donald Trump, and it strengthens that story because it says, ‘Look how much I’m protecting you, and I’m the only person who can solve these things. I’m the only one who can save you”.

Bekerman also told the Hollywood Reporter that he sees an optimistic future for the Tariff, as in his eyes, Hollywood has always been built on impeding instability. In his argument, Beckerman states:

“I’m always looking for a positive. Yes, the announcement on the weekend was jarring. If that were to be enacted, it would be very destabilizing in every territory, including the U.S. But for this industry, destabilization that’s where we live. That’s a skill set we know how to deal with.”

While no formal announcement has been made regarding how the Tariffs will be implemented, many parts of the film industry have been actively attempting to grapple with their significant impact. In particular, many parts of the Canadian film industry, from unions to Government agencies, are actively weighing their options regarding how to proceed if these Tariffs go through.