Trump’s Hollywood Plan Blows Up as Sylvester Stallone Reveals He Was Blindsided by the President — Then Drops a Bombshell About How He Shut It Down
Sylvester Stallone is revealing that his appointment as one of Donald Trump’s special ambassadors to Hollywood was not something he knowingly signed up for.
The “Rocky” star recently explained that he was surprised to learn he had been selected for the role, saying he first heard about the appointment while watching television. Stallone also admitted that if Trump had asked him beforehand, he likely would have turned it down.
“Well, it just happened,” Stallone told The Sunday Times. “I was watching TV one night and they go, ‘So Stallone and 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.”
Stallone was announced alongside Mel Gibson and Jon Voight as one of Trump’s special ambassadors in January 2025. Trump said the three Hollywood actors would serve as his “eyes and ears” and help him bring the entertainment industry back to the United States.
Trump described Hollywood as “a great but very troubled place” when announcing the appointments. He said the three actors would work as special envoys with the goal of making Hollywood “BIGGER, BETTER, AND STRONGER THAN EVER BEFORE!”
But Stallone said he immediately saw problems with the idea of the three actors attempting to influence an industry dominated by major studios and corporate interests.
When asked whether he had been hesitant about taking on the role, Stallone said, “Yes, because Hollywood, I guess it’s like feudal states. They have their little kingdoms. 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.”
The actor said he eventually told Trump that he did not believe the arrangement would work.
“I said thank you and ciao, because it’s impossible,” Stallone said. “Hollywood works, and it will evolve. It’s corporate and corporate people won’t want to hear me tell them about finance.”
Despite those reservations, Stallone has continued to speak positively about Trump.
During a gathering at Mar-a-Lago, Stallone recalled introducing Trump as a “mythical character.” The actor said he was impressed by Trump’s ability to accomplish something he viewed as difficult.
“Nobody in the world could’ve pulled off what he pulled off, so I’m in awe,” Stallone said.
Stallone’s comments about his unexpected appointment come after a public moment involving the actor and Trump at the 2025 Kennedy Center Honors.
As previously reported by Atlanta Black Star, Trump praised Stallone during the event before making a remark that appeared to undercut the compliment. Trump referred to Stallone as a longtime friend and spoke about the actor’s accomplishments before saying he would not have turned to Stallone for help when he previously needed it.
“When I needed help, I knew not to go to Sly, because I don’t think he would’ve been there for me,” Trump said. “But now he would. But after tonight, I think he will.”
Stallone was shown reacting to the comment from the venue’s balcony, slightly smirking before rubbing his eyes with his hand. The moment quickly became a talking point online, with one social media user describing it as having the president “honor you and disrespect you at the same time.”
Trump had introduced Stallone warmly during the ceremony, telling the audience, “Sly, you’ve been my friend for a long time. You’ve been a very special friend in so many different ways.”
Now, Stallone’s latest remarks provide more insight into how he viewed his unusual position within Trump’s Hollywood plans.
Although he ultimately accepted being named a special ambassador, Stallone said the position was never something he had actively pursued.
For Stallone, the unexpected title appears to have been less a position he sought and more one that simply landed in his lap.
“Well, it just happened,” he said.