The federal film and television tax credit has a new lobbyist, it seems.
Reality TV star and former L.A. mayoral candidate Spencer Pratt on Friday posted on social media that he had recently met President Donald Trump to advocate for the tax incentive. This legislative effort has been stop-and-start for well over a year.
“Working with the President on a 25% FEDERAL film tax credit to bring back Hollywood,” the former The Hills star said, sharing images of himself and the president speaking at the Trump National Golf Course Los Angeles. After making a few accusations about California’s film commissioner and Attorney General Rob Bonta, he added, “The adults in the room are actually trying to repatriate the most quintessential American industry. I’m committed to saving Hollywood, and I’m very grateful for the President’s remarkable generosity and focus on this issue.”
The Hollywood Reporter has reached out to the White House for comment. A representative for Pratt declined to comment further.
A large coalition of industry advocates and organizations, from the Motion Picture Association to industry unions to President Trump’s “special ambassador” to Hollywood Jon Voight, has long been championing the idea of a stackable incentive for films and TV series produced in the U.S.
Several sources in this cohort reached on Friday said they didn’t believe Pratt was working in coalition with the larger group. “Although we haven’t had conversations with Spencer or his people, we appreciate the support of anyone who has the President’s ear that can help push this initiative forward,” said SP Media Group president Scott Karol, who is part of Voight’s team advocating for the credit. “At the end of the day, what matters is getting a meaningful federal incentive, and bringing good paying jobs back to America.”
The idea has bipartisan support, as THR previously wrote, with Rep. Laura Friedman of California and Rep. Brian Jack of Georgia emerging as key backers of the potential legislation in the House. Sen. Adam Schiff has long been a proponent in the Senate. It’s unclear, however, whether Pratt is advocating for the same kind of credit as they are.
After becoming an outspoken critic of politicians’ responses to the 2025 Palisades Fire, Pratt ran for L.A. mayor earlier in the year on a populist platform, gaining the support of President Trump along the way. After his defeat, Pratt has emerged as a vocal detractor of a lawsuit from 12 state attorneys general aiming to block the $111 billion Paramount-Warner Bros. Discovery merger.
He has claimed that California Gov. Gavin Newsom and attorney general Bonta are attempting to “cripple two of the greatest film studios of all time over politics.” (Newsom has not weighed in on the suit publicly yet, though a Wall Street Journal report in early August suggested he was concerned about the impact on state employment if the merger were blocked.)
Now, it appears, the TV personality has turned his attention to legislative efforts to boost the entertainment industry. Said Pratt in his social media post, “He [Trump] is very passionate about revitalizing the entertainment industry and we will not let Canada, or the U.K. or Budapest steal our lunch anymore.”
Pratt’s advocacy for a federal tax credit arrives after Paramount Skydance head David Ellison made headlines for traveling to Washington to lobby Republicans on the idea.
Can the involvement of Pratt, a registered Republican, and other conservatives finally enthuse the president on the long-gestating idea? Only time will tell. In the meantime, below Pratt’s post on Instagram, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt posted two raising hands emojis.
Aug. 7, 6:16 p.m. Updated with Scott Karol statement.
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