Sylvester Stallone reveals what he said to Trump after surprise Hollywood ambassador appointment

Trump Names Stallone, Gibson and Voight “Special Envoys” to Hollywood

Washington, D.C., Jan. 16, 2025 – In a move that has sparked both surprise and skepticism, President‑elect Donald Trump announced on his Truth Social platform that action‑star Sylvester Stallone, filmmaker Mel Gibson and actor Jon Voight would serve as his “Special Envoys” for Hollywood. The appointment came days before Trump’s second inauguration and signals the former president’s intent to use the influence of three high‑profile entertainers to steer U.S. film and television production back to the United States.

An unexpected announcement

On January 16, Trump posted: “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…back—BIGGER, BETTER, AND STRONGER THAN EVER BEFORE!” He added that the trio would act as his “eyes and ears” in Hollywood and that the United States would once again experience a Golden Age of film.

The announcement came via a single Truth Social post, without a formal press briefing. Stallone, 80, said he first learned of the appointment while watching television. “I was watching TV one night, and they go, ‘So Stallone, Mel Gibson and Jon Voight will be …’ And I went, ‘What?’ I said, ‘Excuse me? Really?’ Because if they had asked me in the beginning, I would have said, ‘This is not possible,’” he told The Sunday Times.

Gibson, 70, also admitted he was caught off‑guard. “I got the tweet at the same time as all of you and was just as surprised,” he told Variety. “Nevertheless, I heed the call. My duty as a citizen is to give any help and insight I can.”

Voight, a staunch Trump supporter, embraced the role and said he would meet with the White House to push for federal film‑tax incentives. “I’ll work with my manager Steven Paul and associate Scott Karol to advance these efforts,” he explained.

A mix of skepticism and support

Stallone’s reaction was more guarded. “I said thank you and ciao, because it’s impossible,” he said. “Hollywood works, and it will evolve.” He described the industry as “feudal” and “corporate” and added that “you don’t go in and tell six studios how to do things. And Mel Gibson and Jon Voight, we’re kind of do‑our‑own‑thing people. No, it won’t work.”

The actor’s comments came after a history of mixed political donations, including contributions to both Democratic and Republican candidates. Despite his ambivalence about the envoy role, Stallone praised Trump publicly. In the days after Trump’s November 2024 victory, he introduced the former president at the America First Policy Institute Gala at Mar‑a‑Lago in Palm Beach, Florida. “I love mythology,” Stallone told the crowd, calling Trump a mythical figure and comparing him to George Washington.

Voight, by contrast, has been vocal about the need for policy changes that would make U.S. production more competitive. In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, he said that Stallone and Gibson were “very busy” but that he himself was working on a letter that Stallone had signed. The letter, officials say, outlines a plan for a federal tax incentive that would aim to reverse the trend of production moving overseas.

Trump’s broader film‑policy agenda

The appointment of the envoys follows a series of public statements by Trump about Hollywood’s decline. On Aug. 31, 2024, he posted on Truth Social that “Hollywood is a Complete and Total Disaster” and that there was “no incentive” for productions to stay in the United States. He called for bipartisan legislation to “save the Movie, Television, and Entertainment Business in America” and announced that meetings were being set up with leaders of both parties.

Senator Adam Schiff (D‑CA) and Representative Laura Friedman (D‑CA) have issued statements supporting Trump’s proposal for a federal film‑tax incentive. In a joint statement, they said they would work with Trump to craft legislation that would “provide much‑needed relief to the film and television industry.” Their support underscores a rare moment of cooperation between Trump and key Democratic lawmakers on a cultural issue.

Trump’s administration has also announced that Stallone has been named a 2025 Kennedy Center honoree, along with George Strait, KISS, Gloria Gaynor and Michael Crawford. The inclusion of Stallone, a long‑time Hollywood icon, among the honorees further highlights the president’s focus on the entertainment sector.

Industry reaction and implications

Industry observers note that the appointments raise questions about the feasibility of using celebrity influence to shape federal policy. Hollywood’s leaders have long argued that production decisions are driven by a combination of tax incentives, labor costs, and geographic advantages, not by a single individual’s “eyes and ears.” Stallone’s own remarks about Hollywood’s “feudal” nature reflect a broader skepticism that the entertainment sector can be easily directed.

Nonetheless, the envoys have already begun to engage with policymakers. After meeting with the trio at the end of last month, Trump reportedly threw his support behind a federal film and television production incentive. Voight said he has been working with his manager Steven Paul and associate Scott Karol to push this agenda, and the White House has begun drafting a proposal that would mirror the tax incentives that have been offered in the past.

Industry analysts suggest that any incentive package would need to be carefully balanced to avoid creating a “tax‑competition” with other countries while still providing a competitive edge. They also point out that Hollywood has already seen a significant shift in production to locations such as Canada, Mexico, and parts of Asia, where lower labor costs and tax rebates have drawn big‑budget projects.

Looking forward

Whether Stallone, Gibson, and Voight will be able to effect substantive change remains