Hollywood icon Sylvester Stallone has officially thrown his support behind President-elect Donald Trump, making headlines with his dramatic comparisons of the Republican leader to some of history’s most revered figures. Speaking at the America First Policy Institute Gala last week, Stallone called Trump a “mythical character” and bestowed upon him the nickname “the second George Washington.”
The Rocky star even likened Trump to Jesus Christ, stirring intense reactions online. “When George Washington defended his country, he had no idea that he was going to change the world,” Stallone said. “Because without him, you could imagine what the world would look like. Guess what? We got the second George Washington, as reported by Nicki Swift.
Congratulations!” He also compared Trump to his iconic character Rocky Balboa, saying, “[Rocky] was a chosen person… Something was going to happen, this man was going to go through a metamorphosis. This man was going to change lives, just like President Trump.”
The endorsement marked a significant departure for Stallone, who previously avoided making public political endorsements to maintain his broad appeal. While some Trump supporters celebrated Stallone’s remarks, others expressed disappointment, as reported by HuffPost.
An X user criticized Stallone for breaking his long-standing neutrality: “Stallone said years ago in a bio that he would never state his political leanings so as not to alienate any fans. YO!!!” Another commented, “I don’t like Stallone anymore. First, I didn’t like the way he talked about Tulsa in an interview. And now Trump?” Meanwhile, a Trump supporter applauded Stallone’s stance, writing, “Awesome! I am glad one person from Hollywood has the guts to admit Trump is what the USA needs!”
Stallone’s connection to Trump isn’t new. The actor has attended Trump’s New Year’s Eve parties at Mar-a-Lago and even gifted Trump a signed Rocky poster to celebrate his 2016 presidential victory. Despite their camaraderie, reports suggest Trump has privately expressed jealousy over Stallone’s success in entertainment.
According to Ramin Setoodeh, co-editor-in-chief of Variety, Trump reportedly criticized Stallone’s reality show The Contender, claiming it didn’t measure up to his own The Apprentice. Stallone’s latest comments signal a dramatic shift in his public persona, cementing his alignment with Trump. Whether embraced or criticized, his endorsement adds another layer of intrigue to the intersection of Hollywood and politics as Trump prepares to assume office once again.