Trump Names Three A-Listers as "Special Ambassadors to Hollywood”

With his inauguration just days away, President-elect Donald Trump remains at the center of attention—swiftly appointing cabinet members, holding rapid-fire meetings with tech leaders, and now enlisting Hollywood icons as his "eyes and ears.”

He has appointed longtime supporters Sylvester Stallone, Mel Gibson, and Jon Voight as "Special Ambassadors to Hollywood," aiming to revitalise the struggling film industry.

While their specific responsibilities remain unclear, Trump described them as his "eyes and ears" in Hollywood, pledging to act on their recommendations.

The move comes just days before his inauguration and appears to address the industry's post-COVID downturn, exacerbated by the 2023 writers' and actors' strikes.

US film and TV production has declined 26% since 2021, according to ProdPro data.

Stallone, Gibson and Voight, Are Pro-Trump

Unlike most of Hollywood, which overwhelmingly supported Kamala Harris in the 2024 election, Stallone, Gibson, and Voight have been vocal Trump loyalists.

Stallone, 78, hailed Trump as the "second George Washington" while introducing him at the America First Policy Institute Gala in November.

The Rocky star expressed at that time:

“We are in the presence of a really mythical character. Nobody in the world could have pulled off what he pulled off, so I'm in awe.”

He added:

“When George Washington defended his country, he had no idea that he was going to change the world because, without him, you could imagine what the world would look like. Guess what? We've got the second George Washington. Congratulations!”

Gibson, 69, backed Trump while dismissing Harris as unfit for office.

The Braveheart actor said in October:

“I know what it'll be like if we let her in. That ain't good. A miserable track record, an appalling track record, no policies to speak of, and she's got the IQ of a fence post.”

As for Voight, 86, he once declared Trump the "greatest president since Abraham Lincoln.”

Whether they will attend Trump's inauguration remains unclear, as does the scope of their new roles.

Can these Hollywood legends truly influence an industry in flux, or is their appointment more symbolic than substantive?