President-elect Donald Trump has named three prominent actors as special ambassadors tasked with reviving Hollywood’s business prospects. The announcement comes just days before Trump’s inauguration on Jan. 20, 2025.
Trump revealed the appointments of Jon Voight, Mel Gibson, and Sylvester Stallone on his social media platform, Truth Social. In the post, he described the trio as critical to his plans for rebuilding the entertainment industry.
“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!”
The specific responsibilities of the ambassadors remain unclear. However, their connection to Trump has been well-documented. All three actors have publicly supported him during his political career.
Jon Voight, Silverster Stallone & Mel Gibson to save Hollywood!
@jonvoight @TheSlyStallone @MelGibsonNew pic.twitter.com/mOUPT7pcUM
— Andi B&W
(@andiblue112) January 16, 2025
Voight, 86, has been a vocal advocate, often praising Trump’s leadership. The Midnight Cowboy and Pearl Harbor actor once called Trump the greatest president since Abraham Lincoln.
Stallone, 78, known for his role as Rocky Balboa, introduced Trump during his victory speech at Mar-a-Lago, likening him to George Washington.
Gibson, 69, who starred in Braveheart and Mad Max, expressed his willingness to serve despite being surprised by the announcement.
“Nevertheless, I heed the call. My duty as a citizen is to give and help and insight I can,” Gibson said in a statement. He recently lost his Los Angeles home to wildfires and joked about whether the role comes with an ambassador’s residence.
The appointments come at a challenging time for Hollywood, which has struggled in recent years. The COVID-19 pandemic, labor strikes, and competition from streaming services have hurt the industry’s profitability.
While CA burns…
Have no fear. Trump has installed a relevant trio of young, brilliant minds to restore Hollywood to greatness! pic.twitter.com/geaL5R0DV4—
Arbiter of Cool
(@ArbiterofCool) January 16, 2025
Los Angeles, the heart of the entertainment business, is also grappling with deadly wildfires that have caused an estimated $250 billion in damage, further impacting the local economy.
Lucas Shaw, a longtime Hollywood analyst, expressed skepticism about the effectiveness of the appointments.
He said, “He [Trump] sees them as allies, and he can use them to talk about change in Hollywood, but I don’t imagine you’re going to have John Voight and Sylvester Stallone and Mel Gibson trying to figure out how to restore the cable bundle, or make streaming more profitable, or figure out how to make China import more Hollywood movies.”
Trump’s relationship with Hollywood has long been contentious. While his reality show The Apprentice bolstered his public image as a businessman, his move into politics created tension with an industry that predominantly supports Democrats.
Trump has frequently criticized Hollywood, calling it elitist and out of touch with ordinary Americans.
In 2019, Trump accused the film industry of creating “racist” and “dangerous” content, citing controversy over the movie The Hunt. The following year, he criticized the Academy Awards for awarding the South Korean film Parasite the Best Picture honor, questioning the recognition of a foreign movie.
As Trump prepares to take office, it remains to be seen how his chosen ambassadors will impact Hollywood’s recovery and future growth.
