Sylvester Stallone has revealed he turned down Donald Trump's appointment as a special ambassador to Hollywood after learning about the position on television.
The 80-year-old actor said he was blindsided when the US president announced on Truth Social in January 2025 that Stallone, Mel Gibson, and Jon Voight would serve as envoys to help return film production to American soil.
Speaking to The Sunday Times, Stallone explained that he was watching television one night when he first heard about the plan, which was revealed days before Trump's second inauguration.
Stallone recalled his reaction to the broadcast, stating: "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.'"
When asked if he felt apprehension regarding the assignment, the veteran film star confirmed that he did, describing the entertainment industry as a collection of independent fiefdoms.
"Yes. Yes, because Hollywood, I guess it's like feudal states," Stallone told the publication. "They have their little kingdoms."
Resistance from major studios
Stallone added that attempting to direct major film executives on business decisions was unworkable, pointing out the distinct personalities of the three actors chosen by Trump.
"You don't go in and tell six studios how to do things," he explained. "And Mel Gibson and Jon Voight, we're kind of do-our-own-thing people. No, it won't work."
Following the public announcement, Stallone eventually contacted Trump directly to decline the role and clarify that he would not be participating.
"I said thank you and ciao, because it's impossible," Stallone shared. "Hollywood works, and it will evolve. It's corporate, and corporate people won't want to hear me tell them about finance."
Stallone, an Academy Award-nominated actor and filmmaker, rose to worldwide fame after creating and starring in the 1976 boxing drama Rocky, later solidifying his status as a major Hollywood action hero through the Rambo series and iconic rivalries with fellow stars such as Arnold Schwarzenegger, with whom he shared a 20-year feud.
Trump's vision for Hollywood envoys
Trump outlined the ambassador initiative in a social media message posted on January 16, 2025, calling Hollywood a troubled location that needed economic restoration.
"It is my honor 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 platform, Truth Social.
The president expanded on the initiative, writing that the trio would act as his representatives to address American production moving overseas during the previous four years.
"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!" Trump posted.
"These three very talented people will be my eyes and ears, and I will get done what they suggest," Trump added. "It will again be, like The United States of America itself, The Golden Age of Hollywood!"
Surprise among the designated ambassadors
Gibson, the 70-year-old Oscar-winning director and actor known for starring in Mad Max and Lethal Weapon and directing Braveheart, also revealed that he was caught off guard by the announcement.
Speaking to trade publication Variety shortly after Trump's statement was released, Gibson acknowledged learning about the role at the exact same moment as the general public.
"I got the tweet at the same time as all of you and was just as surprised," Gibson admitted at the time. "Nevertheless, I heed the call. My duty as a citizen is to give any help and insight I can."
The actor then joked about potential diplomatic perks, asking: "Any chance the position comes with an Ambassador's residence?"
Voight, an Academy Award winner known for roles in Midnight Cowboy, Coming Home, and National Treasure, has long been one of the most prominent conservative figures in the American film industry, where major studios produce content for global audiences.
Stallone's history with Trump
Stallone's decision to decline the ambassador role came despite his vocal support for Trump following the November 2024 presidential election, when he publicly praised the former president.
Introducing Trump at the America First Policy Institute Gala held at the Mar-a-Lago Club in Palm Beach, Florida, Stallone described him as a historic figure.
"We're in the presence of a really mythical character," Stallone said during the event. "I love mythology. And this individual does not exist on this planet. Nobody in the world could have pulled off what he pulled off, so I'm in awe."
Stallone went on to compare Trump to the founding father of the United States during the ceremony.
"When George Washington defended his country, he had no idea that he was gonna change the world," Stallone told the audience. "Because without him, you could imagine what the world would look like. Guess what? We got the second George Washington."
Later in 2025, Trump selected Stallone as a Kennedy Center honoree, recognizing his career in American performing arts alongside musicians George Strait, KISS, Gloria Gaynor, and Michael Crawford at the Washington venue.
Stallone's upcoming memoir, titled The Steps and published by HarperCollins, is set to be released on September 29.
