Kristen Stewart has suggested she may move her creative work outside the United States, citing growing concerns about artistic freedom amid renewed tensions with Donald Trump.
The actress said recent political rhetoric targeting Hollywood has made it increasingly difficult for her to work freely in the country.
The dispute between Stewart and Trump stretches back more than a decade. In 2012, Trump posted a series of tweets commenting on Stewart’s breakup with Robert Pattinson, urging him to end the relationship.
Those remarks marked the beginning of a long-running public clash. Over the years, both sides have exchanged criticism through interviews and social media.
Actress Kristen Stewart says EVERYONE should be scared with having Donald Trump as President..
Thoughts..?? pic.twitter.com/ID0EEZqLIu
— American AF 🇺🇸 (@iAnonPatriot) December 28, 2025Stewart Revived Criticism in Recent Years
Last year, Stewart revisited the controversy during interviews. She described Trump’s past comments as humiliating and dismissed his behaviour in strong terms. At the time, the remarks reignited public interest in their long-standing rivalry. Few, however, anticipated that it might influence her career decisions.
Stewart recently completed her directorial debut, The Chronology of Water, which was filmed in Latvia. In an interview with The Sunday Times, Stewart said producing the film in the United States would not have been possible under the current climate.
Kristen Stewart will "probably not" stay in America and says “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… I can’t work freely [in America] But I don’t want to give up completely. I’d like to… pic.twitter.com/ZvtG9EW3TK
— Variety (@Variety) January 27, 2026She described recent threats toward the film industry as alarming and said they have reshaped how she plans future projects.
Stewart said the political environment has made creative work feel constrained. She added that while she does not plan to abandon the US entirely, she intends to focus more on European productions.
She suggested she would prefer to make films abroad and later distribute them internationally, including in the American market.
Read: Trump Imposes 100% Tariff on Foreign Films to Revive Hollywood
In September, Trump proposed imposing 100% tariffs on films produced outside the United States, claiming foreign countries had undermined the American film industry. While the proposal has not advanced, it raised concerns across Hollywood. Industry figures warned such measures could disrupt global collaboration and production.
Stewart appears unwilling to wait for policy changes. Instead, she is actively building her directing career beyond Hollywood, focusing on international projects that allow greater creative control. Her comments reflect broader unease within the film industry over political pressure and artistic independence.
