Sylvester Stallone has claimed President Donald Trump appointed him a Hollywood Special Ambassador after he'd turned down the position.

The Rocky actor, along with Jon Voight and Mel Gibson, were announced as taking the roles in January 2025, but the 80-year-old star was baffled by the president's announcement because he had already told him the idea wouldn't "work".

He told the Sunday Times magazine: "Well, it just happened. I was watching TV one night and they go, 'So Stallone and Mel Gibson and Jon Voight will be …' And I went, 'What?' I said, 'Excuse me? Really?' Because if they had asked me in the beginning, I would have said, this is not possible."

Stallone admitted he had a number of reservations about the idea of appointing anyone a Special Ambassador to Hollywood.

Asked if he had any reservations, he said: "Yes. Yes, because Hollywood, I guess it's like feudal states. They have their little kingdoms. You don't go in and tell six studios how to do things. And Mel Gibson and Jon Voight, we're kind of do-our-own-thing people. No, it won't work."

And quizzed on whether he had explained that to the president, he added: "Yes, and I said thank you and ciao, because it's impossible. Hollywood works and it will evolve. It's corporate and corporate people won't want to hear me tell them about finance."

The Rambo star's comments come shortly after the US leader praised "fantastic" Jon as he slammed Hollywood as a "complete and total disaster".

He wrote on his Truth Social platform three weeks ago: "He is a fantastic man who loves our Country, and feels strongly about the Motion Picture and Television Industry.

"He hates what's happened to it! It is being dissipated in its entirety. It has moved to Canada, and other Countries, with very little work being done anymore in the United States.

"Hollywood is a Complete and Total Disaster! Despite the name, it is getting very little work. There is no incentive to be there, and it is hurting California very badly.(sic)"

The controversial politician explained Jon and industry leaders had suggested a federal tax incentive in order to "Make our Movie and Television Production Business GREAT AGAIN (sic)".

He added: "Perhaps GREATER THAN EVER BEFORE!

"The amount of money spent on Tax Incentives will be made up tenfold by the money pouring into the Treasury's coffers.

"Meetings are being set up with the Leaders of both Parties in order to get this done. It should be Bipartisan, especially since so much money is being lost in California, and other largely Blue States.

"I am going to suggest that Republicans and Democrats get together, and immediately craft Legislation to save the Movie, Television, and Entertainment Business in America. Congress should approve, immediately, a Federal Production Incentive to create Entertainment Jobs in America."

The president believes the incentive would have benefits across the country.

He concluded: "It can be done quickly, accurately, efficiently and, importantly, will benefit ALL of America. What we watch on the Silver Screen should be made in what was once the Movie and Motion Picture Capital of the World. Let's get this done!"

Trump announced the appointment of the Hollywood stars to special ambassador roles shortly before Inauguration Day for his second term in office.

He wrote on Truth Social at the time: "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!

"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!(sic)"