US President-elect Donald Trump has appointed three prominent film stars—Jon Voight, Mel Gibson, and Sylvester Stallone—as Special Ambassadors to promote business opportunities in Hollywood.
Announcing the appointments on his Truth Social platform, Trump stated, “It is my honor to announce Jon Voight, Mel Gibson, and Sylvester Stallone to be Special Ambassadors to a great but very troubled place, Hollywood, California.
They will serve as Special Envoys to me for the purpose of bringing Hollywood, which has lost much business over the last four years to Foreign Countries, BACK—BIGGER, BETTER, AND STRONGER THAN EVER BEFORE!”
All three appointees have recently aligned themselves with Trump and his election campaign, though the specifics of their roles remain unclear.
Mel Gibson, 69, expressed surprise at the appointment but pledged his commitment.
“My duty as a citizen is to give and help and insight I can,” he said, humorously asking if the position included an ambassador’s residence after losing his home in the Los Angeles wildfires. Gibson, known for films such as Braveheart and Mad Max, had endorsed Trump before the election and criticized his Democratic rival, Vice-President Kamala Harris.
Sylvester Stallone, 78, best known for his role as Rocky Balboa, introduced Trump during the president-elect’s post-election victory speech at Mar-a-Lago.
Comparing Trump to George Washington, he described him as the “second George Washington,” crediting him with shaping a vision of America akin to its first president’s revolutionary efforts.
Jon Voight, 86, a veteran actor known for Midnight Cowboy and Pearl Harbor, has been an outspoken Trump supporter, previously hailing him as the greatest president since Abraham Lincoln.
The appointments come at a challenging time for Hollywood, which has faced setbacks from the COVID-19 pandemic, labor strikes, and competition from streaming platforms.
Industry expert Lucas Shaw expressed skepticism about the potential impact of the new envoys, stating that while Trump may view the trio as allies, they are unlikely to resolve structural issues like declining cable revenues or challenges with international markets.
Trump’s relationship with Hollywood has long been contentious.
While his reality TV show The Apprentice once bolstered his image as a businessman, his political rise put him at odds with an industry that heavily supports Democratic causes.
His criticism of Hollywood has ranged from denouncing its content as divisive to challenging the industry’s political and cultural influence.
Notably, during his first term, Trump condemned the film The Hunt as “dangerous” and criticized the Academy Awards for awarding Best Picture to South Korean film Parasite.
The timing of Trump’s announcement coincides with devastating wildfires in Los Angeles, which have caused an estimated $250 billion in damages and left many businesses struggling.
As the inauguration approaches, Trump’s plan to revitalize Hollywood through his chosen ambassadors underscores his unconventional approach to governance and his commitment to reshaping the entertainment industry’s global standing.
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