President Donald Trump's appointment of Sylvester Stallone, Mel Gibson, and Jon Voight as special envoys to Hollywood has faced immediate pushback from the Tulsa King star. Stallone told The Sunday Times that he was caught off guard by the announcement and views the mission as fundamentally unworkable.
Stallone's "feudal states" critique of the six major studios
Sylvester Stallone argues that the structural makeup of the American film industry makes a presidential envoy program nearly impossible to execute. In an interview with The Sunday Times, the actor explained that Hollywood functions more like a collection of "feudal states" than a unified entity. Because the industry is dominated by massive corporate interests , Stallone believes that individual ambassadors cannot simply dictate terms to the major studios.
The appointment, which Trump announced via Truth Social in January 2025, was intended to use these three actors as "eyes and ears" to bring production back to the United States. However,Stallone noted that corporate executives are unlikely to take direction from actors regarding complex financial matters. As the report indicates, Stallone's skepticism stems from the reality that these "little kingdoms" operate with significnat autonomy, making top-down political mandates difficult to enforce.
A divide between Jon Voight's tax incentive push and Stallone's skepticism
The three appointed envoys appear to have very different approaches to their roles within the Trump administration. Jon Voight has fully embraced the position, working alongside manager Steven Paul and associate Scott Karol to advocate for federal film tax incentives. Voight's efforts are focused on creating the economic conditions necessary to lure productions away from foreign markets and back to American soil.
Mel Gibson has also expressed a willingness to assist, despite being surprised by the news of his appointment in January 2025. While Gibson joked about receiving an official ambassador's residence, his stance remains one of civic duty. In contrast, Stallone's reaction was much more dismissive, characterized by his "thank you and ciao" sentiment toward the President. This divergence highlights the difficulty of managing a group of "do-our-own-thing" personalities under a single political banner.
Trump's August 31 "Total Disaster" declaration for Hollywood
President Donald Trump has maintained a combative stance toward the current state of the entertainment industry. In a Truth Social post on August 31, Trump described Hollywood as a "complete and total disaster ," citing a lack of incentives for productions to stay in the United States. This rhetoric aligns with his broader goal of reversing what he perceives as a massive loss of business to foreign countries over the last four years.
The administration's strategy involves pushing for bipartisan legislation to stabilize the movie and television business.. Trump has expressed a desire to see the industry return to a "Golden Age" through the guidance of his special envoys. Stallone,despite his reservations , has a long history of political engagement that isn't strictly partisan; he has provided financial support to both Republican and Democratic campaigns, including contributions to the Democratic National Committee and former President Joe Biden.
The mystery of Stallone's signed letter and actual involvement
Questions remain regarding how much influence Sylvester Stallone will actually exert despite his public reservations. While the actor told The Sunday Times that the plan would not work, his manager's associate, Scott Karol, suggested a different level of engagement. According to Steven Paul, Stallone has remained involved in certain capacities and has even signed a formal letter related to the envoy mission.
It is currently unclear whether Stallone's participation is a matter of professional courtesy or if he is secretly working on the policy goals Trump has outlined.. While Voight is actively meeting with the White House, Stallone's true level of commitment to the "Special Envoy" title remains unverified. The industry is left to wonder if the "eyes and ears" of the President will actually be listening to the stars he appointed, or if the role will remain purely symbolic.
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