It’s a funny old world, isn’t it? You see, some people spend an awful lot of time and energy pontificating from their soapboxes, telling everyone how things should be, all while sneering at good old-fashioned common sense. They paint a picture of a brave new world, often forgetting the foundations that made the old one pretty darn good in the first place.

Then, when push comes to shove, or perhaps when a little dose of reality (or strong leadership) forces their hand, it’s almost comical to watch them scramble. Suddenly, ideas that were dismissed as old-fashioned or, heaven forbid, conservative, are repackaged as their own brilliant innovations. You almost want to pat them on the head and say, “There, there, glad you finally caught up.”

Trump Lays Down the Law for Hollywood

Speaking of strong leadership and industries needing a dose of reality, let’s talk about Hollywood. For years, we’ve watched as film production, a truly American art form, has drifted overseas, chasing tax breaks and cheaper labor. President Donald Trump, never one to mince words, recently called out this exodus for what it is. He rightly pointed out that Hollywood was dying a “very fast death” and declared that the incentives offered by other countries to lure our filmmakers away were nothing short of “a national security threat.”

As The Daily Wire reported, Trump wasn’t just talking; he was acting. He stated earlier this month:

From ‘The Daily Wire’:

“Other Countries are offering all sorts of incentives to draw our filmmakers and studios away from the United States. Hollywood, and many other areas within the U.S.A., are being devastated,” Trump said in a post on Truth Social earlier this month. “It is, in addition to everything else, messaging and propaganda! Therefore, I am 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.”

His message was crystal clear: “WE WANT MOVIES MADE IN AMERICA, AGAIN!” It’s about American jobs, American storytelling, and frankly, ensuring American culture isn’t subtly reshaped by foreign interests.

Suddenly, L.A. Remembers How to Roll Film

Now, fast forward just “more than two weeks” after President Trump’s bold tariff announcement. Lo and behold, what do we see happening in the heart of liberal La La Land? Los Angeles’s Democratic Mayor, Karen Bass, suddenly had an epiphany! She issued an executive order, as reported by The Daily Wire, designed to “cut red tape and make it easier for entertainment professionals to film in her city.” Imagine that!

Mayor Bass declared, “We are going to fight now,” and spoke of supporting the city’s “legacy industry” and “keeping good-paying jobs in L.A.” These are, of course, admirable goals. One might almost think she’d been listening to someone who’d been talking about bringing jobs back to America all along. Her directive even aims to make iconic locations like the Griffith Observatory and the L.A. Central Library more accessible for filming.

Follow the Leader, Hollywood Edition

Isn’t the timing just fascinating? For years, Hollywood productions have been fleeing California, and the state’s leaders wrung their hands or, worse, piled on more regulations. But after President Trump puts his foot down with a national “America First” policy aimed directly at the film industry, then the Democratic mayor of Los Angeles decides it’s time for “bold action.”

It’s a pattern we’ve seen before, fellow citizens. Conservatives propose common-sense solutions, often facing ridicule, only to see liberals quietly adopt similar measures when reality bites. Mayor Bass might be pushing for state tax credits and cutting local red tape, but it’s hard not to see President Trump’s tariff as the thunderclap that finally woke them up. They can talk all they want about local initiatives, but it often takes decisive, national leadership to get the ball rolling in the right direction.

This isn’t just about making movies. It’s about a fundamental difference in approach. President Trump saw a national problem – an industry bleeding out, taking jobs and cultural influence with it – and took decisive action. Mayor Bass’s moves, while welcome for L.A., look an awful lot like a local official scrambling to align with a new, Trump-led national reality. It seems, once again, that when it comes to getting things done and protecting American interests, Democrats are often just playing catch-up to conservative leadership.

Key Takeaways:

• Trump’s “America First” tariff targets foreign film influence and boosts U.S. jobs.
• L.A.’s Democrat Mayor quickly followed suit, cutting red tape after Trump’s move.
• Conservative leadership effectively forces pragmatic, pro-America actions even from reluctant Democrats.

Sources: Daily Wire