Just days before his Inauguration, President-elect Donald Trump has tapped into Hollywood, appointing three entertainment icons as his go-to for the glitz and glamor world.
On January 16, from the depths of his social platform Truth Social, Trump dropped the celebrity bombshell: Jon Voight, Angelina Jolie's dad, Mel Gibson, the Lethal Weapon legend, and Sylvester Stallone of Rocky fame are joining his ensemble. He launched his announcement with: "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."
Building on that sentiment he shared: "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 then laid out their mission: "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! ".
According to Deadline, Trump has been vocally critical of an industry that largely backed Kamala Harris in the recent presidential race, reports the Express US.
As the media giants gear up for a change at the helm, there's a clear line being drawn between the boardroom battles and the personal politics dominating Tinseltown's narratives. Patrick Kilcur, the Motion Picture Association’s main lobbyist, is stepping out, making his way to Ballard Partners—a firm with deep roots in the Trump fold.
Kilcur will keep on advocating for the MPA and other industry clients. On X, previously known as Twitter, journalist Aaron Rupar reposted Trump's statement with his own commentary: "Sure, why not."
Netizens didn't hold back their thoughts on the matter, with one user saying: "So embarrassing."
Another chimed in: "Just another distraction from being unable to deliver on the issues that actually matter to folks."
A third vented: "As if anyone in Hollywood wants to talk to any of them? " while a fourth expressed disbelief: "I can't believe this is real."
Trump's bold declaration comes just four days before his inauguration in Washington, D. C. , amidst the backdrop of devastating wildfires that ravaged thousands of homes and buildings in Southern Los Angeles.
The domestic box office felt the pinch in 2024, suffering from the aftermath of the 2023 actors and writers strikes. According to Variety, last year's box office takings were at $8.7 billion, marking a 3.3% drop from 2023 and a steep 23.5% fall from 2019's pre-pandemic high of $11.3 billion.
Voight, Gibson, and Stallone are not alone in their readiness to collaborate with Trump as he gears up for his second term. Country star Carrie Underwood faces backlash for her unwavering decision to sing at Trump's January 20 inauguration.
Insiders close to the "Before He Cheats" songstress say she's undeterred by any flak over her planned performance of "America The Beautiful."
The news that Underwood will be part of the inauguration has really split her fans. Some are cheering her on, but others aren't happy at all.
Right after they heard about it, people started posting on X, which used to be Twitter, saying how let down they feel. "No longer a Carrie Underwood fan," one person posted, and someone else said: "Sad thing is, I used to love her music and her style, but ever since I found out she was a Trump lover, Carrie Underwood is no longer allowed in this house for even a second."
Another fan wrote: "Carrie Underwood getting canceled in 2025 was not on my bingo card," and another one shared: "Guess I'm no longer a Carrie Underwood fan."
And there was also someone who added: "Yeah Carrie Underwood is definitely who I thought she was."
