Kristen Stewart Considers Leaving US Amid Trump's Proposed Film Tariffs, Cites Inability to Work Freely

Kristen Stewart, the bisexual actress known for her role in the Twilight saga, has announced plans to likely leave the United States in response to President Donald Trump's proposed 100% tariffs on movies filmed outside the country. In an interview with The Times published around January 27, 2026, Stewart said Trump's threats are "terrifying" and that "reality is breaking completely under Trump." She added, "But we should take a page out of his book and create the reality we want to live in."

The 35-year-old Stewart, who married screenwriter Dylan Meyer in 2025, emphasized her frustration with the current environment, stating, "I can’t work freely there." Asked if she would remain in the US, she responded: "Probably not... 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."

This decision ties directly to her directorial debut, The Chronology of Water, a biographical drama adapted from Lidia Yuknavitch’s memoir about her abusive childhood, Olympic swimming dreams, drug abuse, and exploration of her queer identity. The film, starring Imogen Poots as Yuknavitch, was shot in Latvia because "it would have been impossible to do in the States," Stewart explained. Yuknavitch's story highlights themes of queer identity and resilience, resonating with LGBTQ+ audiences through its person-first portrayal of personal struggles and self-discovery.

Trump proposed the tariffs in September 2025, claiming foreign countries had "stolen" the US movie business, likening it to "stealing candy from a baby." The policy aims to encourage domestic production but has not yet advanced. Stewart's comments come amid her shift from acting to directing, following acclaimed roles in queer-themed projects like Love Lies Bleeding and her Oscar-nominated performance in Spencer.

The exchange revives a feud dating to 2012, when Trump tweeted advice to Robert Pattinson to "dump" Stewart after her affair amid their Twilight romance. Stewart later called those remarks "tarring and feathering" and Trump a "little baby." As a prominent bisexual figure in Hollywood, Stewart's potential exodus underscores concerns among LGBTQ+ creatives about policy impacts on artistic freedom and international collaboration.

No immediate responses from the Trump administration or Hollywood guilds were reported in coverage. Stewart's stance highlights broader tensions in the industry, where tariffs could limit global storytelling, including narratives affirming LGBTQ+ experiences like those in The Chronology of Water. Her career trajectory—from Twilight's Bella Swan to directing queer-centered films—positions her as a voice for diverse representation facing potential US production barriers.