Sylvester Stallone praised Donald Trump as the “second George Washington” Thursday evening as he introduced the president-elect at a gala at the Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Florida.

“I’m just saying this, and I mean it. When George Washington defended this country, he had no idea he would change the world. Because without him you can imagine what the world would be like,” Stallone said. “Guess what? We have the second George Washington! Congratulations!”

Stallone made the comments while introducing Trump at the America First Policy Institute gala. Trump emerged soon after, with his theme song “God Bless the USA” by Lee Greenwood playing in the background, and gave Sly a warm hug.

You can watch the moment, recorded by C-SPAN and shared by Collin Rugg on X, below:

Earlier in Stallone’s two-minute intro, he compared one of his most famous characters, Rocky Balboa, to Trump. Stallone said the famous movie boxer was a “chosen person” who would “change lives – just like President Trump.”

The action star, who is currently starring in “Tulsa King” on Paramount+, followed that comment with even more praise.

“We’re dealing with a real mythical character,” Stallone said. “I like mythology. And this individual does not exist on this planet. No one in the world had accomplished what he accomplished. So I’m impressed.”

Stallone’s comments on Thursday night come nearly five years after Trump shared a photo of his face photoshopped over Stallone’s body from the ‘Rocky III’ poster: