Stallone's refusal

Sylvester Stallone, 80, said he rejected Trump's offer to be Hollywood special ambassador because it's 'impossible' for corporate Hollywood to listen to him.

“I said thank you and ciao, because it's impossible”

Trump's appointment

Trump named Stallone, Jon Voight, and Mel Gibson as Hollywood special ambassadors to reinvigorate the film industry and compete with foreign entertainment.

Stallone's shock

Stallone was shocked to hear Trump named him, saying he watched TV and thought, 'Excuse me? Really?'

“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?'”

Voight's effort

Only Jon Voight has actively worked on Trump's film tax credit initiative, while Stallone and Gibson have been busy with other projects.

“They've been very busy, both of those guys actually have been extremely busy”

Stallone's memoir

Stallone's new memoir 'The Steps: A Memoir' details his turbulent childhood in Philly and struggles with bullying and emotional abuse.

Stallone's views

Stallone believes business leaders are driven by insecurity and fear, not by their public personas.

“Every one of these titans of the business world, I don't care what they say, I believe a lot of them in the quiet of the night, if they really were honest with you and they weren't being recorded, would admit insecurity drives them”

Hollywood's structure

Stallone describes Hollywood as 'feudal states' with separate kingdoms, saying he won't work with studios to change the industry.

“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”

Trump's vision

Trump wanted Stallone and others to create a blueprint for Hollywood to compete with foreign entertainment through tax credits and industry reforms.

“These three very talented people will be my eyes and ears, and I will get done what they suggest”

Stallone's memoir release

Stallone's memoir 'The Steps: A Memoir' releases Sept 29, 2026, detailing his childhood in Philly and struggles with bullying.

Biopic coming

A biopic 'I Play Rocky' about Stallone's rise to fame will release in November 2026.

Stallone's stance

Stallone says Trump's plan to shake up Hollywood is misguided because the industry is too fragmented to be reformed by a few individuals.

“Mel Gibson and Jon Voight, we're kind of do-our-own-thing people. No, it won't work”