In a candid new interview, actress Kristen Stewart has expressed her intention to potentially leave the United States to pursue filmmaking abroad, while delivering sharp criticism of former President Donald Trump and his proposed policies affecting Hollywood.
A Desire for Creative Freedom Beyond American Shores
The 35-year-old Oscar-nominated star, best known for her role in the Twilight saga, revealed in a conversation with the Sunday Times that she cannot envision remaining in America to work freely. Stewart, who splits her time between Los Angeles and New York, stated plainly, 'Probably not. I can't work freely there.' However, she emphasised a defiant continuation of engaging with American audiences, declaring her wish to 'make movies in Europe and then shove them down the throat of the American people.'
Trump's Proposed Tariffs and Industry Backlash
This bold statement comes against the backdrop of Donald Trump's recent pronouncement that he would impose a 100 per cent tariff on films made outside the United States, labelling them a 'National Security threat'. Stewart branded this potential policy 'terrifying' for the film industry, a sector where international co-production is commonplace for both blockbuster and independent projects. She foresees such measures potentially forcing her to relocate her creative endeavours overseas.
Stewart's directorial debut, The Chronology of Water—an adaptation of swimmer Lidia Yuknavitch's memoir about abuse and addiction—was shot in Latvia precisely because, as she explained, 'it would have been impossible to do in the States.' This experience appears to have cemented her view on the limitations within the current American film landscape.
A Long-Standing Public Feud with a Former President
The actress's criticism of Trump is deeply personal, rooted in a very public clash dating back to 2012. Before his political ascendancy, the then-businessman and reality TV star, now 79, launched a series of furious tweets targeting Stewart during the fallout from her cheating scandal. At the time, news had broken of her infidelity with married director Rupert Sanders while she was in a relationship with her Twilight co-star Robert Pattinson.
Trump's online rant included posts such as: 'Robert Pattinson should not take back. She cheated on him like a dog & will do it again—just watch. He can do much better!' and 'Everyone knows I am right that Robert Pattinson should dump Kristen Stewart. In a couple of years, he will thank me. Be smart, Robert.'
Reflections on a 'Bizarre' History
Reflecting on this episode years later, Stewart described it as 'insane' and 'f***ing crazy', telling Variety she initially had 'no reference' for Trump's behaviour as he was merely a reality star at the time. She later poked fun at the situation while hosting Saturday Night Live in February 2017, shortly after Trump's inauguration. After reading some of his old tweets, she joked, 'I don't think Donald Trump hated me. I think he's in love with my boyfriend,' before delivering the punchline: '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.'
In her recent interview, Stewart struck a more philosophical tone regarding Trump's influence, stating, 'Reality is breaking completely under Trump. But we should take a page out of his book and create the reality we want to live in.'
Personal Milestones and Professional Ventures
On a personal note, Stewart married screenwriter Dylan Meyer in April last year in a low-key ceremony at a Mexican restaurant, after six years of dating. The couple first met on a film set in 2013. Professionally, in 2023, Stewart and Meyer co-founded their own production company, Nevermind Pictures, with Maggie Mclean, signalling a move towards greater creative control behind the camera.
Kristen Stewart's forthright comments highlight a growing tension between artistic expression, political climate, and economic policy within the American entertainment industry, as a prominent figure contemplates taking her talents elsewhere.
