President Donald Trump has named actors Mel Gibson, Sylvester Stallone, and Jon Voight as special envoys for Hollywood on Truth Social, a move that surprised at least one of the appointees.
The President characterized the three actors as his “eyes and ears” in Hollywood, California. He described the entertainment industry hub as “a great but troubled place” in need of a resurgence.
“They will serve as Special Envoys to me with the goal of revitalizing Hollywood, which has lost significant business over the last four years to foreign countries. It will be restored—larger, better, and stronger than ever before!” Trump stated. “It will return to its golden age, akin to The United States of America.”
Gibson, a director and lead actor in “Braveheart,” a film that won five Academy Awards including Best Picture and Best Director in 1995, seemed unaware of the appointment. “This is the first I’m hearing of it,” Gibson mentioned to the press, but later indicated to reporters that he would “heed the call.” His directorial portfolio includes multiple Academy Award nominees, including “Hacksaw Ridge” in 2016 for Best Picture.
Stallone’s nearly five-decade-long career is punctuated by the creation of two major franchises. His “Rocky” series garnered him Academy Award nominations for Best Actor and Best Original Screenplay in 1976, with the first film winning Best Picture. The “Rambo” franchise has amassed over $800 million in global box office revenue, while the “Rocky” series, including its “Creed” spinoffs, has accrued more than $1.7 billion worldwide.
Voight’s career breakthrough arrived with 1969’s “Midnight Cowboy,” and he won an Academy Award for Best Actor for “Coming Home” in 1978. His recent work includes an Emmy nomination for his portrayal of Mickey Donovan in the TV series “Ray Donovan” from 2013 to 2020.
The announcement arrives as the U.S. film and television production industry grapples with a significant decline. Industry data reveals a 26% drop from 2021 levels. In the larger Los Angeles area, production fell by 5.6% from 2023, reaching the lowest point since 2020, the year of the pandemic.
At a November event at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago property in Palm Beach, Florida, Stallone showcased his support by likening Trump to the country’s first president. “Trump is the second George Washington,” Stallone proclaimed, lauding the president’s “awe-inspiring accomplishments.”
In a recent video address, Voight criticized Trump’s political rivals, Kamala Harris and Tim Walz, stating, “They will destroy the American dream. They are corrupt.” He has previously lauded Trump as “the greatest president since Abraham Lincoln.”
The Los Angeles entertainment sector currently confronts numerous challenges. Recent wildfires have inflicted considerable damage to production facilities and homes in the region, with Gibson among those who lost properties in the fires. The domestic box office has yet to rebound to pre-pandemic levels, with revenues still falling short of 2018 figures.
Trump’s announcement did not elaborate on the specific duties or authority of the special envoys, leaving questions about their role in addressing these industry challenges unanswered.