As former President Donald Trump ramps up anti-Hollywood rhetoric and floats tariffs on movies made abroad, Netflix is leaning into its red-white-and-blue brand. In its latest earnings report, the streaming giant made a very pointed statement about its commitment to American productions—a move that feels like carefully timed corporate diplomacy.
A Subtle but Significant Shift in Messaging
“While the majority of our content spend... is in the US, we now also spend billions of dollars per year making programming abroad.”
“As we grow globally, our most significant investment remains in the US, which accounts for the majority of our content spend, workforce and production infrastructure.”
The new version drops the talk of global balance and doubles down on an "America first" narrative. This patriotic flex comes just weeks after Trump threatened a "100% tariff on any and all Movies coming into our Country that are produced in Foreign Lands."
The Key Players
Netflix's Position
With co-CEO Ted Sarandos known for keeping friendly ties with powerful people (including Trump), the company is proactively highlighting its domestic investments to protect its business from potential trade disruptions.
Trump's Stance
The former president is leveraging anti-Hollywood sentiment and threatening tariffs as part of a broader "America First" trade agenda, putting global media companies on notice.
By the Numbers: Netflix's U.S. Investment
This isn't just talk. The company is backing its words with massive capital expenditure, including major studio expansions in New Mexico and a state-of-the-art production facility in New Jersey.
Final Thought
Netflix’s subtle shift in messaging might not be aimed directly at Donald Trump—but it certainly feels like a nod in his direction. Whether it's smart business, political diplomacy, or both, one thing’s clear: Netflix wants to make sure its next blockbuster doesn’t come with a tariff.
