- President-elect Donald Trump named Sylvester Stallone, Mel Gibson and Jon Voight as 'special envoys' to Hollywood.
- In is unclear exactly what role these three actors will serve in the president-elect's administration.
- Hollywood has recently faced issues such as a decrease in filming in Southern California and in international ticket sales.
We’ve seen them in blockbuster movies like “Rocky” “Braveheart” and “Midnight Cowboy,” but now Sylvester Stallone, Mel Gibson and Jon Voight will be serving as “special envoys” to Hollywood for President-elect Donald Trump.
In a Truth Social post on Thursday, Trump announced his new special ambassadors to Hollywood. He wrote that Voight, Gibson and Stallone will serve as his “eyes and ears” in the “great but very troubled place.”
“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!"
Many people in the entertainment industry supported Kamala Harris during the presidential election, and Trump has long railed against the industry. According to the Hill, during Trump’s first term his relationship with Hollywood was adversarial.
“Celebrities at awards shows frequently criticized him, and Trump often returned the favor with social media attacks mocking low ratings and the hosts of such shows,” per the Hill.
What does this mean?
It is unclear exactly what role these men will serve.
In his Truth Social post Trump wrote, “These three very talented people will be my eyes and ears, and I will get done what they suggest. It will again be, like The United States of America itself, The Golden Age of Hollywood!”
The president-elect did not include details on what he’d like to like to change in Hollywood or what role these new envoys would play in his plans, per Forbes.
It is unclear whether any other president has appointed people to a role like this.
Why Sylvester Stalone, Jon Voight and Mel Gibson?
All three actors are known and vocal supporters of Trump, per The Hill.
Trump awarded Voight the National Medal of Arts in 2019, and the actor has been a longtime supporter of the president-elect.
During the 2024 presidential campaign, Stallone referred to Trump as the “second George Washington” and introduced him during a post-election gala in Florida, per The Hill.
Gibson has faced controversy in the past for making racist and antisemitic comments, some of which he’s apologized for. The actor also ridiculed Harris’ intelligence during the 2024 election.
What is the problem with Hollywood?
According to Forbes, for years TV and movie filming has moved out of Southern California to other states and countries with better tax incentives and lower costs. For example, England, Hungary, Australia and Canada offer generous tax incentives to studios.
Another issue Hollywood has faced is a sharp decrease in international ticket sales, per The New York Times. For example, China, used to be a big market for American movies but recently has prioritized more locally produced films.