Donald Trump, undisputed master in the art of communication, never ceases to amaze. On his social network Truth, the president-elect has launched yet another media bombshell: Jon Voight, Mel Gibson and Sylvester Stallone will be the ‘special ambassadors’ of a new mission to restore Hollywood to its glory. A move that mixes patriotism, nostalgia and showmanship to declare war on the woke thinking that, according to Trump, has stifled the American film industry.
“It is an honour for me to announce that Jon Voight, Mel Gibson and Sylvester Stallone will be special ambassadors to a great but very troubled place, Hollywood, California,” Trump wrote in his unmistakable style. “They will be my special envoys for the purpose of making Hollywood, which has lost a lot of business to foreign countries over the past four years, even bigger, better and stronger than before!”
The announcement came with all the symbolic weight of the three chosen. Voight, an experienced actor and one of the few in Hollywood to publicly support Trump, has long been a figurehead among conservatives. Gibson, visionary director and iconic face of Braveheart, represents the uncompromising warrior who fights for freedom, while Stallone, the legendary Rocky Balboa, is the embodiment of the common man who never gives up. Not surprisingly, Stallone recently referred to Trump as ‘the second George Washington’, emphasising the parallels between the president-elect’s resolute leadership and the founding principles of the United States.
Behind the choice of Voight, Gibson and Stallone is more than a cultural strategy. Trump is constructing a narrative that combines patriotism with the symbols of a pre-woke Hollywood, capable of winning people’s hearts with stories of courage, sacrifice and perseverance. This appeal is not new in American politics: in the 1980s, at the height of the Cold War and under the presidency of Ronald Reagan, characters like Rocky Balboa and John Rambo, both played by Stallone, became emblems of American patriotism.
Rocky, in his epic clash with Ivan Drago in Rocky IV, represented America’s message of freedom and sportsmanship against a Russia without values. Drago, the Soviet boxer, not only symbolised a regime devoid of morals, capable of killing Apollo Creed without remorse, but also embodied an unfair system that relied on doping to create an artificial champion, in stark contrast to Rocky’s determination and loyalty.
Rambo, on the other hand, in his hugely popular second chapter, did justice to the abandoned and often forgotten American war veterans, crying out with pain and pride: ‘I want our country to love us, as much as we love it‘. His mission to free prisoners of war from the evil Russian enemies was not just a personal battle, but a symbolic act to redeem America itself, showing that patriotism and a sense of duty can overcome any adversity.
Mel Gibson, on the other hand, has embodied timeless heroes such as William Wallace in Braveheart, but especially Benjamin Martin in The Patriot. The latter film, which recounts the exploits of an ordinary man in the struggle for American independence, perfectly represents the values (and sufferings) at the origin of the United States. Martin’s character reflects the fighting spirit of a nation born of sacrifice, love of freedom, God and family, and resistance against all tyranny.
The Golden Age that Trump envisions for Hollywood is inspired by those years, when the big screens were filled with heroes who embodied American pride and the fight for freedom. In this context, ‘Make Hollywood Great Again’ could become one of his administration’s new slogans, with a strong reminder of a Hollywood that openly celebrated American values and global leadership.
Trump, like a political director, now aims to recreate that narrative, enlisting his ‘special ambassadors’ to lead a new cultural battle against the woke ideology and give Americans a film industry to be proud of.
Will Trump succeed in conquering Hollywood? His proposal will certainly not fail to cause debate. Between enthusiastic supporters and detractors ready to cry cultural assault, one thing is certain: Trump has once again captured the world’s attention. And as patriot Jon Voight, rebel Mel Gibson and the indomitable Rocky prepare to take the field, Hollywood finds itself in the spotlight of a new cultural battle.
The challenge is set: will it be the beginning of a new era for American cinema or yet another act in an endless war between opposing visions? Will Disney and Netflix adapt after the ideological drift of recent years? Only time will tell, but one thing is certain: with Trump at the helm, entertainment is guaranteed. Get your popcorn ready.