Culture 4 min read By Mason Emerson
Sylvester Stallone Says He Turned Down Trump's Hollywood Ambassador Role: 'I Said Thank You and Ciao'
Sylvester Stallone revealed he never explicitly agreed to serve as Trump's 'special ambassador' to Hollywood, telling the president the role was 'impossible' before being appointed anyway nearly two years ago.
Sylvester Stallone has revealed that he never explicitly agreed to serve as President Donald Trump's «special ambassador» to Hollywood, saying he told the president the role was «impossible» before being appointed anyway nearly two years ago.
In a recent interview with The Sunday Times, the Oscar nominee explained that the position came about unexpectedly rather than through any formal agreement. «Well, it just happened,» Stallone said. «I was watching TV one night.»
The «Rocky» and «Rambo» star recalled telling Trump directly that the ambassadorship would not work. «I said thank you and ciao,» Stallone said, describing his response to the offer. He added that he would have rejected the gig outright «if they had asked me in the beginning.»
Stallone's account suggests a gap between the public announcement of his appointment and his own understanding of what he had agreed to. The title was bestowed by Trump as part of an effort to establish a liaison between the White House and the entertainment industry, though the exact duties and scope of the role have remained loosely defined.
The actor's disclosure comes nearly two years after the appointment was first announced, a period during which Stallone has occasionally been referenced in connection with the honorary position but has not publicly outlined any specific initiatives or accomplishments tied to it.
His comments also reflect the awkward position of a Hollywood figure navigating a politically charged relationship with a president who has drawn both support and fierce opposition from different corners of the entertainment world. Stallone has generally avoided deep engagement with partisan politics in his public statements, though his association with Trump has occasionally prompted questions.
The «special ambassador» designation itself is unusual, lacking a clear precedent in how previous administrations have interacted with the film industry. It is not a formal government post requiring Senate confirmation, and it carries no defined budget or staff. That ambiguity may help explain why Stallone describes the role as something that «just happened» rather than a job he actively pursued.
Stallone's remarks add a personal anecdote to the broader story of how Trump, a former television personality and reality star, has sought to maintain ties with Hollywood even as much of the industry has kept its distance. The president has long cultivated relationships with certain celebrities and has frequently commented on the entertainment business from the political stage.
For Stallone, the interview offers a rare glimpse into his private conversations with Trump and his own reluctance to take on a formalized public role. By saying he told the president «thank you and ciao,» the actor frames his response as polite but firm, a dismissal rather than an acceptance.
Whether the ambassadorship will continue to exist in any meaningful form remains unclear. Stallone's comments suggest he does not view it as a position he ever fully embraced, even as the title has been attached to his name in public discourse.
The actor, a three-time Oscar nominee known for his enduring franchise roles, has remained a prominent figure in American pop culture for nearly five decades. His latest remarks are likely to be read as another example of a celebrity keeping political entanglements at arm's length while still being drawn into them.
