Kristen Stewart, the acclaimed actress and director, has announced her plans to leave US filmmaking and focus on producing movies overseas, expressing frustration with the current environment in Hollywood under Donald Trump. Speaking about her experiences, Stewart revealed she intends to make films abroad and then
“shove them down the throat of the American people,”
highlighting the growing obstacles she faces within the American film industry.
At 35, Stewart’s decision follows a long-standing tense relationship with the former US President, who publicly criticized her in 2012 amid her highly publicized cheating scandal. Now, in an interview with the Sunday Times, she openly criticized Trump’s influence on Hollywood and the industry’s future in the States, emphasizing her inability to work freely in the US.
Challenges of Filmmaking Under Trump’s Policies
Stewart’s directorial debut, The Chronology Of Water, inspired by the 2011 memoir of American swimmer Lidia Yuknavitch, was shot in Latvia since
“it would have been impossible to do in the States,”
she explained. The film explores Yuknavitch’s struggles with childhood abuse and addiction, and Stewart’s choice of Latvia was driven by the practical and creative restrictions imposed domestically.
Last year, Donald Trump announced plans for a 100 percent tariff on any movie made outside the US, labeling such films a “National Security threat.” This policy, targeting foreign production involvement, threatens existing industry practices where large and small movies alike often film part of their projects internationally. Stewart described these proposed tariffs as “terrifying” and signaled that they would push filmmakers like her to move out of the country.
When asked if she expected to stay working in the US, Stewart replied,
“Probably not. I can’t work freely there.”
Despite this, she conveyed an ambition to continue making films for American viewers:
“But I don’t want to give up completely. I’d like to make movies in Europe and then shove them down the throat of the American people.”
Stewart Reflects on Past Public Clashes with Donald Trump
Stewart’s fraught history with Donald Trump dates back to 2012, long before he became president. During her cheating scandal involving director Rupert Sanders, Trump launched a series of scathing tweets targeting Stewart and her then-boyfriend, Twilight co-star Robert Pattinson. At the time, Trump, known for his multiple marriages—including famously leaving Ivana Trump for Marla Maples in 1992—publicly condemned Stewart’s actions.
“Robert Pattinson should not take back. She cheated on him like a dog & will do it again–just watch. He can do much better!”
“Everyone knows I am right that Robert Pattinson should dump Kristen Stewart. In a couple of years, he will thank me. Be smart, Robert.”
“Lots of response to my Pattinson/reunion. She will cheat again–100 certain–am I ever wrong?”
“Robert Pattinson is putting on a good face for the release of Twilight. He took my advice on…I hope!”
“After Friday’s Twilight release, I hope Robert Pattinson will not be seen in public with–she will cheat on him again!”
This barrage of tweets created a bizarre and very public feud, with Trump obsessing over an issue deeply personal to Stewart. Speaking to Variety on the day of Trump’s inauguration, she remarked on the absurdity of the situation:
“He was mad at me a couple years ago, really obsessed with me a couple years ago, which is f***ing crazy. What? I can’t even understand it. I literally cannot even understand it. It’s such far-out concept that I don’t want to believe that actually is happening. It’s insane.”
Stewart further noted that at the time of Trump’s attacks, he was “just, like, a reality star” and said,
“It wasn’t like really a thing. But in retrospect, somebody reminded me of that and I was like, Oh my gosh, you’re right!”
Using Humor to Address Past Conflicts
The actress also confronted her complicated relationship with Trump during her hosting stint on Saturday Night Live in February 2017. After reading selected tweets from Trump related to her cheating scandal, she joked,
“I don’t think Donald Trump hated me. I think he’s in love with my boyfriend.”
She closed with a pointed comment about her evolving identity and public persona:
“Donald, if you didn’t like me then, you’re probably really not going to like me now because I’m hosting SNL and I’m, like, so gay, dude.”
Personal Life and New Ventures Outside Hollywood
Kristen Stewart married her wife, Dylan Meyer, in April 2023 in a private ceremony at Casita Del Campo, a Mexican restaurant, after dating for six years. The couple reportedly met in 2013 while filming Nima Nourizadeh’s action comedy American Ultra.
In addition to her creative projects abroad, Stewart and Meyer, along with Maggie Mclean, founded a production company called Nevermind Pictures in 2023, signaling a further move toward independent filmmaking outside the traditional Hollywood system.
Broader Impact on Hollywood and Film Production
Stewart’s decision to leave US filmmaking reflects a broader unease within the creative community about the direction of the American entertainment industry under Trump’s policies. The imposition of heavy tariffs on foreign-produced films threatens to stifle the international collaboration vital to modern filmmaking.
By choosing to work abroad and continuing to target American audiences, Stewart highlights the shifting power dynamics in film production and distribution. Her stance may inspire other artists frustrated by political interference and restrictive policies to seek alternative paths, potentially transforming the scope and reach of Hollywood’s influence globally.
