Sylvester Stallone says 'all war is futile' amid Trump's war on Iran

Sylvester Stallone has opened up about how his views on war have changed since he first played the iconic soldier John Rambo.

In a recent interview with the New York Times, the actor was asked whether Rambo reflected his own views when the character was at the height of his popularity. The interviewer referred to comments Stallone made in 1985 in support of American military power.

Stallone said that his views at the time did reflect the character, but he now has a very different opinion about war.

“It did. And now I realize all war is futile,” he said. "It's a mechanism to make tons of money for the war department and manufacturers, and these kids are just going out there into a gristmill, being chopped up, and then when they come back with no arms it's, Oh, sorry, you're on your own. I hate it and I'm bitterly opposed to it."

Stallone also looked back at his younger self and admitted that he had once been strongly supportive of military action. He said his earlier position may have been influenced by the culture around Hollywood at the time.

"But at one time I was truly gung-ho," he said. "I don't know if I was just trying to go against the current," he explained. "In Hollywood, there's a certain dynamic, as you know. I think it was just naïveté, really, because I read a lot, especially after First Blood, and I go, Wow, this is brutal, this is horrible, there's no glory in war. None."

The actor’s latest comments come despite his previous public support for Donald Trump. In November 2024, Stallone introduced Trump at an America First Policy Gala in Palm Beach and referred to him as the “second George Washington”.

Trump later selected Stallone, Jon Voight and Mel Gibson as special envoys with a stated aim of encouraging Hollywood’s film industry to return to the United States.