US President-elect Donald Trump has appointed three high-profile actors—Sylvester Stallone, Mel Gibson, and Jon Voight—as special envoys to Hollywood. The announcement, made on Thursday, signals an effort to revitalize the entertainment industry, which Trump claims has suffered losses in recent years.
“It is my honour to announce Jon Voight, Mel Gibson, and Sylvester Stallone to be Special Ambassadors to a great but very troubled place, Hollywood, California,” Trump wrote 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 continued.
The trio, with ten Oscar nominations and three wins between them, are known for their conservative views, a rarity in Hollywood’s predominantly liberal circles. However, their personal lives and controversies have also drawn significant attention.
Jon Voight, a vocal Trump supporter, was accused by actor Frank Whaley of slapping him on the set of Ray Donovan in 2020. Gibson, long embroiled in accusations of anti-Semitism, racism, and domestic violence, faced backlash after a 2006 DUI arrest in Malibu where he made anti-Jewish remarks. Leaked tapes in 2010 further revealed racist comments and alleged abuse of his former partner, Oksana Grigorieva. Stallone, who referred to president-elect as the “second George Washington,” has been accused of sexual assault, though charges were never filed due to insufficient evidence.
“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!” Trump declared.
The president-elect’s relationship with Hollywood has been fraught, as the entertainment industry has historically supported Democrats. In the 2024 election, high-profile celebrities, including Taylor Swift and George Clooney, backed Democrat Kamala Harris.
Trump, however, bypassed traditional Hollywood endorsements, instead aligning with influential social media figures.
While critics question the appointments due to the appointees’ controversial histories, the president-elect remains confident in their ability to bring significant change to Hollywood.
