Trump Promotes Hollywood Bill During Nationwide Flight Ground Stop

On November 13, as flight disruptions spread across the country, President Donald Trump used Truth Social to advocate for legislation intended to bring more film and television production to the United States. The post came about two hours into a Federal Aviation Administration ground stop for departing flights, which began shortly before 4 p.m. amid air traffic control communication failures. The FAA did not initially give details about the cause.

Trump’s lengthy post focused on jobs and productions he said had moved overseas, including to Canada, the United Kingdom and Australia, where governments offer incentives. He urged Republicans and Democrats to finalize the film and television revitalization measure, describing the effort as bipartisan and arguing it could benefit the country.

The bill, H.R. 10582, was introduced in September by Texas Representative Nathaniel Moran. It is backed by 63 lawmakers across party lines and would offer tax breaks to film and television productions.

Critics objected to Trump’s focus on Hollywood during the aviation disruption. Former federal prosecutor Joyce Vance and author Amy Siskind criticized the timing, while progressive media outlet MeidasTouch said hours had passed without Trump communicating about the FAA crisis. Supporter Kari Lake praised his effort to bolster U.S. film production.

The ground stop barred departing flights while allowing aircraft already in the air to land. It had been scheduled to last until 11 p.m., but the FAA lifted it just after 8:15 p.m., over four hours after it started. CNN commentators raised the possibility of a problem with a planned FAA system upgrade, but the cause was not established in the reports. The White House had yet to answer a request for comment.

Trump Pitches Hollywood Tax Breaks as Flights Are Grounded

As a nationwide aviation emergency disrupted travel on November 13, President Donald Trump chose to spotlight Hollywood tax incentives, drawing criticism over the priorities his social media post conveyed. The FAA had ordered a ground stop for departing flights amid air traffic control communication failures, while the cause remained unclear.

About two hours into the disruption, Trump used Truth Social to call for passage of the film and television revitalization measure. He argued that overseas incentives had drawn production and jobs away from the United States, naming Canada, the United Kingdom and Australia as competitors. The bill would offer tax incentives for film and television production.

Introduced in September by Texas Representative Nathaniel Moran, H.R. 10582 has 63 cosponsors from both parties. Trump called the measure bipartisan and urged lawmakers to finalize it. But critics, including former federal prosecutor Joyce Vance and author Amy Siskind, condemned the timing, and MeidasTouch said hours had passed without Trump communicating about the FAA crisis. The episode put the contrast between a national travel disruption and the president’s chosen subject at the center of the criticism.

Supporter Kari Lake praised Trump’s work on film production. The ground stop, which prevented departures but allowed aircraft already aloft to land, was lifted just after 8:15 p.m., over four hours after it started. The FAA had not initially explained the cause; CNN commentators raised a possible connection to a planned system upgrade, but that possibility was not established.

Trump Pushes Bipartisan Film Bill as FAA Ground Stop Disrupts Travel

While a nationwide FAA ground stop disrupted departing flights on November 13, President Donald Trump used Truth Social to press for legislation he said could help keep film and television production in the United States. His post made the case that overseas tax incentives were pulling productions and jobs away, and called for Republicans and Democrats to complete a bipartisan effort.

The film and television revitalization measure, introduced in September by Texas Representative Nathaniel Moran, would offer tax breaks to productions for the big and small screen. The measure has 63 cosponsors from both parties. Trump named Canada, the United Kingdom and Australia as countries competing for productions with incentives, and argued that the legislation could benefit the country.

Critics focused on the timing, faulting Trump for discussing Hollywood while the FAA dealt with a nationwide disruption. Former federal prosecutor Joyce Vance and author Amy Siskind criticized the choice, and MeidasTouch said hours had passed without communication from Trump about the FAA crisis. That criticism highlights a real clash in priorities, even as the bill itself has support across party lines and was praised by Trump ally Kari Lake.

The FAA ground stop began shortly before 4 p.m. and barred departing flights while allowing aircraft already in the air to land. Although its planned end was 11 p.m., it was lifted shortly after 8:15 p.m. The FAA did not initially specify the cause. CNN commentators raised a possible link to a planned system upgrade, but did not establish it as the cause.