Donald Trump selects Mel Gibson, Sylvester Stallone, Jon Voight as Hollywood ambassadors

Donald Trump selects Mel Gibson, Sylvester Stallone, Jon Voight as Hollywood ambassadors

U.S. President-elect Donald Trump has appointed renowned and sometimes contentious film icons Sylvester Stallone, Mel Gibson, and Jon Voight as special envoys to Hollywood. Announced on Thursday, the move is part of his effort to revitalize and strengthen the entertainment industry like never before.

The trio, boasting a combined total of 10 Oscar nominations and three wins, distinguish themselves in Hollywood by breaking away from the predominantly Democratic-leaning stance of their peers.

However, the trio is equally renowned for their personal lives as they are for their political affiliations, with two of them—much like Trump—having faced significant legal troubles in the past.

"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 Truth Social platform.

"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!" he added.

Jon Voight drew attention in 2020 when actor Frank Whaley alleged that Voight had slapped him during the filming of the crime drama Ray Donovan. However, most of Voight's controversies have stemmed from his outspoken support for Trump.

Mel Gibson, meanwhile, has faced widespread criticism over allegations of anti-Semitism, homophobia, racism, and domestic violence.

Gibson has been working on a career comeback after being ostracized by Hollywood following his 2006 drunk-driving arrest in Malibu, during which he made an anti-Semitic rant.

The controversy deepened in 2010 when leaked tapes revealed Gibson using racist slurs against Oksana Grigorieva, the mother of one of his nine children. Grigorieva later accused Gibson of physical abuse, further tarnishing his reputation.

Stallone -- who recently called Trump the "second George Washington" -- has faced a string of sexual assault allegations, all of which he has denied.

In 2018, the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office announced that there was insufficient evidence to pursue charges against Gibson regarding allegations of sexual assault dating back to 1987 and 1990.

In 2007, Stallone admitted to importing 48 vials of prohibited human growth hormone into Australia. He explained that he was using them under a doctor's prescription and had no intention of breaking the law.

"These three very talented people will be my eyes and ears, and I will get done what they suggest. It will again be, like The United States of America itself, The Golden Age of Hollywood!" added Trump, who himself has 34 felony convictions.

Trump and the Republicans have historically garnered little support from the entertainment industry, with a host of stars, including Taylor Swift and George Clooney, backing Democrat Kamala Harris in the 2024 presidential election.

Highlighting the limited influence of celebrity endorsements, Trump bypassed Hollywood by focusing on a specific group of prominent, hypermasculine YouTube influencers.