Trump casts Mel Gibson, Sylvester Stallone and Jon Voight as his ‘Hollywood envoys’
Washington: Donald Trump has tapped US actors Mel Gibson, Sylvester Stallone and Jon Voight to be special envoys to Hollywood, as he continues to fill his administration with supporters and loyalists.
Four days before he returns to the White House, the president-elect has selected the three entertainment giants to drive more business to Hollywood, describing it as “a great but very troubled place”.
Mel Gibson (left), Jon Voight and Sylvester Stallone are cast as Trump’s Hollywood envoys.Credit: Stephen Kirprillis
“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 announced on his Truth Social platform.
“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!”
The announcement adds to Trump’s unorthodox selections for his second administration, which also includes billionaires such as Elon Musk (who will run a new government efficiency unit); former Fox presenter Pete Hegseth (Trump’s pick to run the Pentagon); and World Wrestling Entertainment co-founder Linda McMahon (nominated as education secretary).
Last month he tapped producer Mark Burnett – who helped drive Trump’s celebrity status through The Apprentice – to be a special envoy to the United Kingdom.
He also appointed his friend and golf buddy Steve Witkoff to be a special envoy to the Middle East, where the real estate investor worked with Biden administration officials to secure the Israel-Hamas ceasefire deal announced on Thursday (AEDT).
But while some have welcomed the picks, others, such as departing President Joe Biden have warned of an emerging “oligarchy” in the US.
“Today, an oligarchy is taking shape in America of extreme wealth, power and influence that literally threatens our entire democracy, our basic rights, freedoms and a fair shot for everyone to get ahead,” he said in his farewell speech.
President-elect Donald Trump with Stallone at an America First Policy Institute gala at the Mar-a-Lago estate on November 14.Credit: AP
Gibson, Stallone and Voight have all been supportive of the Republican. After Trump won the election in November, Stallone, 78, introduced him at a gala event at Mar-a-lago as “the second George Washington”.
Gibson, 69, revealed his support for the president-elect in a video days before the election, in which he also accused Vice President Kamala Harris of having “the IQ of a fence post”.
“I know what it’ll be like if we let her in. And that ain’t good. Miserable track record. No policies to speak of,” said the Braveheart star, who faced a backlash in 2006 after he was caught on tape giving an antisemitic rant during a traffic stop.
And Voight, 86, the father of Angelina Jolie, has long been an outspoken supporter of Trump, declaring in a video last year the upcoming election was “the war of our lifetime”. He also raged against Harris, saying “we the people are in trouble” if she won the election.
Trump’s announcement comes after a difficult time for Hollywood, with the 2023 writers’ strikes significantly disrupting film and television production, and the LA fires causing widespread destruction.
His latest picks were named as the Senate continued to hold confirmation hearings for several of his other cabinet nominees, including hedge fund manager Scott Bessent (who Trump has tapped to lead Treasury); former North Dakota governor Doug Burgum (nominated to be interior secretary); and former New York congressman Lee Zeldin (to head the Environment Protection Agency).
Get a note directly from our foreign correspondents on what’s making headlines around the world. Sign up for the weekly What in the World newsletter here.