(The Hill) — Actor and film producer Mel Gibson said he was stunned to be appointed a special envoy to Hollywood under the upcoming Trump administration.
“I got the tweet at the same time as all of you and was just as surprised,” Gibson said in a statement to Variety. “Nevertheless, I heed the call. My duty as a citizen is to give any help and insight I can.”
“Any chance the position comes with an Ambassador’s residence?” he added, making the joke after his Los Angeles home fell victim to the recent deadly wildfires.
Despite the tragedy, the actor well known for his role in “The Passion of the Christ: Resurrection” will serve as a special envoy alongside film stars Jon Voight and Sylvester Stallone.
“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,” President-elect Donald Trump wrote Thursday. “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!”
“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!” he added, highlighting the need for more films to be produced on U.S. soil.
Many celebrities have seemingly warmed up to Trump in recent months, including Gibson. The star openly backed the president-elect during the 2024 election despite being critical of him in 2016.
The “Patriot” and “Braveheart” actor, after losing his home, also echoed Trump’s attacks on California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) and his administration in light of the Los Angeles fires.
