Sylvester Stallone just called Donald Trump the “second George Washington” in a speech at Mar-a-Lago. On November 14, 2024, at the dinner event, part of the America First Policy Institute gala, Stallone introduced the president-elect with huge fanfare.
The gala occurred at Mar-a-Lago, Trump’s resort in Palm Beach, Florida. Several prominent figures attended, including members of Trump’s future cabinet. Stallone’s introduction of Trump was one of the highlights of the evening.
Stallone began his address by comparing Trump, the president-elect, to his character Rocky Balboa. He said Trump was a “mythical character” who just made a big transformation. “When George Washington defended his country, he has no idea that he would change the world”, said Stallone. “Guess what? We got the second George Washington.”
He began his speech by invoking his 1976 classic, which starts with a panning shot of a Jesus picture out to Rocky Balboa getting hit. “At that moment, he was a chosen person and that’s how I began the journey-something was gonna happen, this man was gonna go through a metamorphosis and change lives,” Stallone said, via CSPAN. “Just like President Trump.
His comments have generated much discussion, with some praising the comparison he has done and others finding it hugely controversial. The comments by Stallone in praise of Trump have added to the continuing debate about the former president’s legacy and his impact.
Trump, in his speech, expressed his gratitude to Stallone, saying, “Wow, thank you Sly! You know, Sly does not do that. He does not do that stuff but he did a beautiful job.” The two motored hands and embraced on stage in a moment the attendees shall never forget.
What really matters is how Stallone likens Trump to George Washington, who is often regarded as one of the most important figures in American history. By likeningTrump to Washington, he is suggesting that Trump’s mark on the country is similarly profound.
Every year, there is held an America First Policy Institute Gala hosted by the America First Policy Institute. The event engages high-ranking figures, policymakers, and supporters of the America First agenda in a coming together to celebrate policy initiatives to be undertaken in putting America first.
Most of the time, the party will take place at Donald Trump’s resort in Mar-a-Lago, Florida. Information flowed as guests arrived through speeches, panel discussions, and networking. The high-profiled guests were from among the members working in Trump’s administration, the influential policymaker, and well-publicized figures.
Over the years, Sylvester Stallone has shared a very complicated relationship with Donald Trump. While he never came out to openly support Trump for president during the 2016 and 2020 elections, Stallone has expressed his admiration for Trump as a person.
In 2016, Stallone called Variety to say, “I love Donald Trump. He’s a great Dickensian character. You know what I mean? 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 didn’t vote in the 2016 election, and he has said he didn’t consider himself a Republican. He also told reporters last year he did not vote in the 2020 election, choosing to remain neutral “and hoped that the best guy won.” But Stallone has expressed support for Trump in other ways. In 2018, he visited the White House when Trump issued a posthumous pardon to boxing great Jack Johnson.
The latest gala marked the first public speech since the victory by President-elect Donald Trump of the 2024 election. He celebrated the victory, saluted his allies, and termed the election as “most consequential,” underlining the importance of the America First agenda. Trump introduced several newly named Cabinet members and senior administration officials during the event, including Elon Musk, Vivek Ramaswamy, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., and North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum.
Different areas of policy, such as economic growth, national security, healthcare, and education, are discussed in this gala. It has defined missions: to advance policies serving the interest of Americans while making their nation stronger on the global stage. The evening will come in handy also for deliberation about past accomplishments and future plans of the America First movement.
Comments by Stallone raised eyebrows and put a different twist to the affair. Let’s face it: calling Trump the “second George Washington” by Sylvester Stallone has indeed turned heads. Not that everyone would agree with such a comparison, but still, this somehow managed to throw yet another sharp curve into what has become a national conversation about Trump’s place in American history.
