Actor and filmmaker Sylvester Stallone introduced President-elect Donald Trump at the America First Policy Institute (AFPI) Gala on Thursday. His short, heartfelt speech likened Trump to the "second George Washington."
The "Rocky" star was the final speaker of the night, talking for only two minutes before Trump took the stage at Mar-a-Lago.
Stallone opened by referencing his iconic "Rocky" character. He drew a parallel between Rocky's journey and Trump's ability to inspire transformation.
"We are in the presence of a really mythical character. Nobody in the world could have pulled off what he pulled off, so I'm in awe," Stallone remarked.
He then compared Trump to George Washington, praising his commitment to America. "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. Guess what? We've got the second George Washington. Congratulations!" Stallone declared.
As Stallone's speech ended, Lee Greenwood's "God Bless the U.S.A." played, and Trump took the stage. The two exchanged a handshake and brief words.
Though Stallone has often remained private about his politics, he previously expressed admiration for Trump. In a 2016 interview with Variety, Stallone said, "I love Donald Trump… There are certain people like Arnold [Schwarzenegger], Babe Ruth, that are bigger than life. But I don't know how that translates to running the world."
Stallone did not endorse Trump during the 2024 election but made headlines when he answered a FaceTime call from Fox News' Brett Baier in October. He encouraged Pennsylvania voters to "keep punching."
This speech at Mar-a-Lago marked Stallone’s first public comments about Trump’s presidency, adding a memorable moment to the evening.