Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning is one of the most anticipated films of 2025. On Thursday evening, Tom Cruise attended a press conference in Seoul to promote the movie. However, he chose not to respond to a question about Donald Trump’s proposed tariffs on foreign-made films.

Cruise Steers Clear of Trump Tariff Topic

During the event, a Korean journalist brought up Trump’s plan. The reporter said the film was shot in several locations, including Africa. Then, he asked if the movie would face U.S. tariffs because it was produced abroad. He asked,
“I’d like to ask this question to anybody who’s up for it. I watched this film and saw that it was filmed in many different locations around the world, including Africa. Of course, we are all aware of the tariffs that President Trump has been imposing on overseas productions and films. So, is this particular movie subject to that tariff? And how much of the film was shot overseas?”

Tom Cruise immediately responded with a smile, “We’d rather answer questions about the movie. Thank you.”
Right after that, the moderator supported his reply and said, “I think that’s a fair answer,” according to Variety.

Fans Praise Cruise’s Smart Move

Meanwhile, fans applauded Cruise for staying away from political issues. Many users on social media appreciated how he kept the focus on the film. One fan wrote, “I take back everything I ever said about you, Tom. You're a class act."
Another user commented, "Smart decision. The man enjoys good audiences because he keeps it professional."

Others added, "He's a smart man," and "Very smart — that’s how celebrities should answer such questions."

Furthermore, one user said, "Smart move on Tom's part to keep the topic on the film."

Trump’s Tariff Proposal Draws Criticism

Recently, Donald Trump claimed that Hollywood is “dying a very fast death.” As a result, he said he had ordered the Department of Commerce and the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) to impose a 100% tariff on all foreign-produced films entering the United States.
So far, several Indian filmmakers have strongly opposed this idea.

About the Film: Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning

The film, directed by Christopher McQuarrie, is the eighth installment in the Mission: Impossible franchise. It directly continues the story from Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One (2023).

Tom Cruise returns alongside Hayley Atwell, Ving Rhames, Simon Pegg, Henry Czerny, and Angela Bassett.

Interestingly, the film will release in India on May 17, which is six days before its U.S. release on May 23.