President-elect Donald Trump has unveiled a plan to rejuvenate Hollywood's global influence by appointing Sylvester Stallone, Mel Gibson, and Jon Voight as "special ambassadors" tasked with reviving the entertainment industry.

In a statement shared on Truth Social, Trump expressed his confidence in the trio's abilities: "I am proud to announce Sylvester Stallone, Mel Gibson, and Jon Voight as Special Ambassadors to Hollywood, California—a region filled with potential but facing significant challenges. Their mission is to reverse the trend of losing business to foreign markets and restore Hollywood to its former glory." 

"These remarkable individuals will act as my trusted advisers, bringing me their insights and solutions. Together, we will usher in a new Golden Age for Hollywood, aligning it with the greatness of America itself," Trump added. 

The newly announced ambassadors appeared to have received little notice of their appointments, with Mel Gibson revealing he learned of the news alongside Trump's social media followers.

"I saw the announcement at the same time as everyone else and was equally taken aback. However, I'm ready to step up and contribute in any way I can," Gibson said in a statement to Variety. He humorously added, "Does this role come with an official Ambassador's residence, by any chance?"

Trump's announcement comes mere days ahead of his inauguration in Washington, D.C., amidst a dire situation in Southern Los Angeles, where raging wildfires have left a trail of destruction. Thousands of homes and businesses lie in ruins, with recovery efforts facing significant hurdles as the estimated damages soar to an alarming $250 billion.

The entertainment industry is also grappling with financial setbacks. The 2024 domestic box office saw a decline, reporting $8.7 billion in revenue—down 3.3% from 2023 and a sharp 23.5% drop compared to 2019, when pre-pandemic ticket sales reached $11.3 billion. 

These losses were compounded by the effects of the 2023 writers' and actors' strikes, which disrupted Hollywood's release schedules and further strained the industry.

Sylvester Stallone, Mel Gibson, and Jon Voight have been outspoken supporters of Donald Trump in recent years. Stallone famously introduced the President-elect during a gala at Mar-a-Lago in November, referring to him as the "modern George Washington."

Gibson, meanwhile, voiced strong support for Trump while criticising Kamala Harris during the 2024 election campaign. Voight, in a detailed Variety cover story last year, expressed his deep admiration for Trump and his leadership.

Despite facing controversy and being sidelined by Hollywood for years following antisemitic remarks, Gibson staged a major comeback by directing the Oscar-winning "Hacksaw Ridge" in 2016. He is set to release his latest action film, "Flight Risk", starring Mark Wahlberg, on January 24. 

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Stallone has kept busy as well, recently starring in the hit Paramount+ series "Tulsa King" and co-writing and producing the upcoming Jason Statham action thriller, "Working Man". Voight has also remained active, appearing in Francis Ford Coppola's ambitious film "Megalopolis" and portraying a key role in the biopic "Reagan", where Dennis Quaid stars as the 40th President of the United States.