Trump Made Sylvester Stallone a Special Hollywood Ambassador — 'Rocky' Star Found Out While Watching TV

Sylvester Stallone has revealed that he was not consulted before President Donald Trump announced him as a special ambassador to Hollywood, saying he first learned about the appointment while watching television.

In January 2025, Trump announced Stallone, Jon Voight, and Mel Gibson as 'Special Envoys' to Hollywood, saying the trio would help bring film and television production back to the US. Trump did not outline a detailed set of duties for the three actors, instead saying they would serve as his 'eyes and ears' in Hollywood.

The announcement came days before Trump was sworn in for his second term, with Trump describing the initiative as an effort to make Hollywood 'BIGGER, BETTER, AND STRONGER THAN EVER BEFORE.'

Stallone Had No Idea It Was Coming

Speaking to The Sunday Times in an interview published this month, Stallone said he was not consulted before Trump publicly announced the appointment. Instead, he discovered the news while watching television.

'Well, it just happened,' the Rocky star said. '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 said his hesitation was rooted in the way Hollywood operates: '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,' he said. Stallone also questioned whether he, Gibson, and Voight could make the arrangement work, describing them as 'do-our-own-thing people.'

'I Said Thank You and Ciao'

Stallone said he later explained his concerns directly to Trump. 'I said thank you and ciao, because it's impossible,' he recalled. 'Hollywood works, and it will evolve. It's corporate, and corporate people won't want to hear me tell them about finance.' It was also reported that he said he turned down the role after learning about it.

He Still Had a Hand in Hollywood Push

Stallone's decision not to take on the ambassador role did not prevent him from supporting at least one of Voight's efforts to encourage film production in the US. Voight has taken a public role in the effort and recently told The Hollywood Reporter that he had been lobbying the White House for a federal film and television tax credit.

Asked whether Stallone and Gibson were involved, Voight said both actors had been 'very busy'. Voight's manager, Steven Paul, added: 'Sly's been doing his TV show, but Sly's been very involved, and he signed our letter.'

Voight has argued that matching production incentives available in other countries could help stimulate film and television production in the US. 'If we get on an even keel with the rest of the world's tax benefits, if we get that break, there's going to be an explosion of energy,' he said.

Stallone's Support for Trump

Stallone has publicly supported Trump, including appearing at a 2024 event at Mar-a-Lago, where he praised the then-president-elect. He has also described himself as 'not a political animal' and 'almost a political atheist.'

Despite his public praise for Trump, Stallone said he ultimately rejected the Hollywood role after concluding that it was not workable. He continues his acting projects, including Tulsa King, while Voight has publicly pursued the lobbying effort.