Spencer Pratt may have flamed out in his bid to be L.A. Mayor, but the reality TV enfant terrible has seemingly found a new calling — saving Hollywood with Donald Trump.
Just days after the deeply unpopular former Apprentice host swooped into Southern California for a behind-closed-doors RNC fundraiser, The Hills alum revealed online that he sat down with Trump to discuss a 25% federal tax credit for the admittedly ailing film and TV industry.
“Working with the President on a 25% FEDERAL film tax credit to bring back Hollywood,” wrote Pratt with an accompanying pic with Trump at the MAGA boss’ Trump National Golf Club in Rancho Palos Verdes, California on August 4.
Just days after the deeply unpopular former Apprentice host swooped into Southern California for a behind-closed-doors RNC fundraiser, The Hills alum revealed online that he sat down with Trump to discuss a 25% federal tax credit for the admittedly ailing film and TV industry.
In and around Trump’s orbit since he was beaten out of a runoff spot in the L.A. mayoral campaign by incumbent Karen Bass and Councilmember Nithya Raman earlier this summer, Pratt offered few details of what he and Trump could be cooking up. The former City Hall contender didn’t respond to a comment for more info Deadline left on his IG post. Also, to that, the White House did not respond to a request from Deadline today on the conversation the two men had and the apparent resurrection of a stalled federal incentives package.
RELATED: Trump Celebrity Supporters: Famous Folks In Favor Of The 47th President
As he has so often in the past since stepping into the political arena what ex-Palisades resident Pratt (who lost his and Heidi Montag’s home in the horrific fires of early 2025) did do was sh*t on everyone else (including Canada) and lather up the easily flattered POTUS.
“While Gavin Newsom’s commissioner is actively outsourcing production jobs to Hungary, and his rogue AG is trying to destroy CA production companies, the adults in the room are actually trying to repatriate the most quintessential American industry,” Pratt said on IG and X with swipes at California’s $750 million incentives program and Golden State Attorney General Rob Bonta’s antitrust lawsuit against the Paramount-WBD merger. “I’m committed to saving Hollywood, and I’m very grateful for the President’s remarkable generosity and focus on this issue. He is very passionate about revitalizing the entertainment industry and we will not let Canada, or the UK or Budapest steal our lunch anymore. Speaking of lunch…best clam chowder I ever had. We discussed several other very important topics, as well. I’m humbled and grateful for all the time and discussion from the President. Unlike many other cynical doomers out there, he refuses to write off California.”
Okay. Lots to unpack there, and not just the chowder obviously.
On one aspect of all that, Gov. Gavin Newsom’s crew had this to say when informed of Pratt’s post and that 25% federal tax credit for Tinseltown: “You mean Gavin Newsom’s idea from last year? Go, Spencer, go!”
In fact, possible 2028 White House contender Newsom is far from the only one long advocating for a federal tax credit for the entertainment industry since past Emmy nominee Trump’s return to power. Trump’s sworn foe Sen. Adam Schiff (D-CA) is on board for such a program, as are SAG-AFTRA, the DGA, the WGA, studio execs and industry lobby groups.
Also pushing for an incentive up around 10-20% is Enemy of the State star and MAGA cheerleader Jon Voight.
One of Trump’s trifecta of Ambassadors to Hollywood, Voight and some producer pals submitted a tax incentive-heavy Make Hollywood Great Again to the White House in May 2025. Even as Trump raged, as he has on numerous occasions since, for a baffling 100% tariff on movies made outside the USA, a Voight-led letter to POTUS in May 2025 praised him for “the support you have shown the industry.”
To give a sense of the support the industry needs, jobs and production has hit bleak levels in the home of Hollywood. The pandemic, the end of the Peak TV era, the 2023 strikes, consolidation and corporate debt, high costs and changing consumer habits has seen the L.A. region lose swaths of projects to the likes of the UK, Canada and several other incentive-offering states. That loss has translated into over 40,000 industry jobs gone, vendors boarding up their storefronts and an exodus of below and above-the-line talent from the high cost of living in the City of Angels.
In that urgent context, the missive from Voight, the guilds, and others last year also said: “We also appreciate your understanding of the need to increase domestic film and television production to bring back American jobs and write seeking your support for the inclusion of three film and television priorities in the reconciliation package currently being drafted in Congress.”
Unfortunately, despite the best bipartisan intentions of all concerned over the last 18 months, any initiative for a federal TV and film has withered on the Executive Office and Congressional vine. With the combative midterms taking center stage after Labor Day, hurting Hollywood shouldn’t expect any real movement this year on any such federal credits or out of Sacramento …regardless of how good the clam chowder is.
Credit: Source link