Actress and director Kristen Stewart is the latest Hollywood star to announce a potential departure from the United States, citing a “breaking reality” under the second Trump administration.
In a candid interview with The Times of London, the Twilight star revealed that she will “probably not” continue living in the U.S. full-time, claiming that the current political climate has made it impossible for her to work as an artist.
A Move to Europe
Stewart, who currently resides in Los Angeles and New York with her wife, Dylan Meyer, has already begun shifting her professional focus across the Atlantic. Her directorial debut, The Chronology of Water, was filmed entirely in Latvia—a move she says was a necessity.
“I can’t work freely there [in the U.S.],” Stewart stated. “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.”
The “Terrifying” Tariff Threat
It isn’t just the social climate that has Stewart packing her bags. The actress expressed deep concern over President Trump’s proposed 100 percent tariff on foreign-made films. For an industry that increasingly relies on international locations and co-productions, Stewart describes the move as “terrifying” for independent filmmakers.
“Reality is breaking completely under Trump,” she added, suggesting that the artistic freedom she requires is now only found in European cinema.
Industry in Flux
As Stewart prepares to make her “anti-American” films from abroad, the wider film industry is watching closely. With potential tariffs looming and major stars eyeing the exits, the landscape of Hollywood production could look very different by the end of 2026.
