Trump announced three familiar names as “special ambassadors” to Hollywood this week. “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. 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 wrote on Truth Social. He added that the three would be his “eyes and ears” to make suggestions on ways to improve Hollywood an that “It will again be, like The United States of America itself, The Golden Age of Hollywood!”

Most of Hollywood has had a generally antagonistic attitude towards the president-elect, dating back to his 2016 presidential run. Trump has also had a contentious relationship with California governor Gavin Newsom. Trump has claimed that Newsom (whom he has referred to as Newscum) blocked a measure that would have allowed the flow of water between norther and southern California during Trump’s first presidency. Newsom has called he allegation “disinformation.”

Voight is the least surprising name on the list, having been a long-time supporter of the president and a conservative voice throughout his career. Voight was the first recipient of a National Medal of Arts during Trump’s presidency and has referred to Trump as, “the greatest president since Abraham Lincoln.” Stallone introduced Trump at a post-election event in Mar-a-Lago, calling him “a really mythical character.” “Nobody in the world could have pulled off what he pulled off, so I’m in awe. When George Washington defended his country, he had no idea that he was going to change the world because, without him, you could imagine what the world would look like.” He then introduced Trump as “the second George Washington.”

Gibson released a statement saying he was “surprised” by the nomination. “I got the tweet at the same time as all of you and was just as surprised. Nevertheless, I heed the call,” he told Variety.  “My duty as a citizen is to give any help and insight I can.” He also joked about the recent loss of his home during the California Palisades fires, asking, “Any chance the position comes with an Ambassador’s residence?” What roles the men will exactly play remains to be seen, but Hollywood has certainly been on the decline since even before the fires, with the COVID pandemic delaying the releases of numerous movies as well as the writer’s strike. Theater going has yet to return to pre-pandemic levels and many studios are struggling to find ways to make streaming profitable. Voight, however, spoke hopefully of Trump’s influence. “oday, we are in pretty bad shape. Very few films are made here now, but we are fortunate to have an incoming President, who wants to restore Hollywood to its former glory, and with his help, I feel we can get done.”