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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Sylvester Stallone, Trump appointee?

In this Nov. 6, 2015, file photo, actor and screenwriter Sylvester Stallone looks on during a news conference promoting the movie "Creed" outside the Philadelphia Museum of Art in Philadelphia. Stallone says he’s flattered, but no thank you, to a rumored offer of the chairmanship to the National Endowment for the Arts. (Matt Slocum / AP)
By Emily Heil Washington Post

Looks as if the Trump administration is off to a “Rocky” start – actor Sylvester Stallone says he is “flattered” to be mentioned as a possible appointee of President-elect Donald Trump to the National Endowment for the Arts, but it seems he does not want the job.

After a report that Trump had offered the NEA chairmanship to Stallone, the actor on Sunday released a statement indicating he does not want it, but he said he would be open to a role that focuses on helping veterans. Stallone is “incredibly flattered to have been suggested to be involved with the National Endowment for the Arts,” he said in a statement to Variety. “However I believe I could be more effective by bringing national attention to returning military personnel in an effort to find gainful employment, suitable housing and financial assistance these heroes respectfully deserve.”

An action-movie tough guy would be just the sort of celebrity Trump would love. But as Variety reported, Stallone is not necessarily a Republican. “I love Donald Trump,” Stallone said in an interview with the publication in January. “He’s a great Dickensian character. You know what I mean? There are certain people like Arnold, Babe Ruth, that are bigger than life. But I don’t know how that translates … to running the world.”

So Kanye for NEA chair?