In an unexpected announcement just days before his inauguration, President-elect Donald Trump has appointed three of his longtime celebrity supporters – actors Mel Gibson, Jon Voight, and Sylvester Stallone – to serve as his “special ambassadors” to Hollywood. The goal, according to Trump, is to make the American film industry “stronger than ever before” under his administration.
The duties of these newly created roles remain unclear, but Trump expressed his full confidence in the trio in a post on his Truth Social platform. “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!” he declared. “These three very talented people will be my eyes and ears, and I will get done what they suggest.”
Controversial Choices
The selection of Gibson, Voight, and Stallone – all vocal Trump supporters but also figures with controversial pasts – immediately raised eyebrows. Gibson faced immense backlash after making antisemitic remarks during a 2006 DUI arrest. Voight has been an outspoken critic of the Democratic party and what he sees as Hollywood’s liberal agenda. Stallone, while beloved for his iconic action hero roles, recently compared Trump to George Washington on the 2024 campaign trail.
“Nobody in the world could’ve pulled off what he pulled off, so I’m in awe.”
– Sylvester Stallone on Donald Trump
It remains to be seen how much influence, if any, the trio will actually wield over the sprawling entertainment industry centered in Los Angeles. Trump has long had an antagonistic relationship with liberal-leaning Hollywood, which overwhelmingly supported his 2024 opponent Kamala Harris.
Hollywood in Crisis
The announcement comes at a turbulent time for Hollywood, which has been reeling from historic wildfires, pandemic disruptions, and labor unrest. The devastating fires in Southern California have caused over $250 billion in damages, displaced thousands, and significantly hampered film and TV productions.
The US box office has also struggled mightily to recover from COVID-19 shutdowns and the ripple effects of the SAG-AFTRA and WGA strikes in 2023. Domestic ticket sales in 2024 were down 23.5% from pre-pandemic 2019 levels. Many are wondering if the 77-year-old Trump and his controversial envoys have any real solutions.
“It will again be, like The United States of America itself, The Golden Age of Hollywood!”
– Donald Trump on his vision for the film industry
Scaled-Back Inauguration Plans
It’s unclear if Gibson, Voight or Stallone will have any formal role in Trump’s upcoming inauguration festivities, which appear more low-key than his first in 2017. Country star Carrie Underwood is slated to perform “America the Beautiful,” joined by Trump-supporting acts like Kid Rock and Jason Aldean.
As Trump prepares to be sworn in for his second, non-consecutive term, all eyes will be on how he plans to wield power – including over pop culture – after a tumultuous election. Appointing three aging actors with checkered pasts to “save” Hollywood may seem like an odd priority, but Trump’s moves have often defied conventional wisdom. The question is, will his vision of a new “Golden Age” come to pass or go up in flames?
