Arnold Schwarzenegger, the former governor of California could not do what Dwayne Johnson can
SUMMARY
Dwayne Johnson said that he was approached by multiple political parties in 2022 to run for U.S. President.
On the other hand, Arnold Schwarzenegger wanted to run for President in 2024 election, but his aspirations are hindered by an insurmountable constitutional barrier.
Only a natural born US citizen can run for the President, and Schwarzenegger is an Austrian by birth.
Arnold Schwarzenegger, the iconic action hero and former governor of California wanted to run for President in the 2024 election. But his aspirations to reach the highest office in the land, the presidency of the United States, are hindered by an insurmountable constitutional barrier – his birthplace.
Arnold Schwarzenegger in Red Heat
However, another Hollywood star Dwayne Johnson can do what Schwarzenegger wanted to. Recently, Johnson revealed in a Podcast that he was approached by political parties asking him if he would run for US president.
Dwayne Johnson Revealed He Was Approached to Run for President
While appearing as the first guest on Trevor Noah’s new podcast What Now?, the WWE wrestler-turned-actor Dwayne Johnson said that he was approached by multiple political parties in 2022 to run for U.S. President, following a poll result stating that 46% of Americans would vote for him.
“That was an interesting poll that happened, and I was really moved by that. And I was really uh, blown away. I was really honored,” he told Trevor Noah on his podcast.
“At the end of the year . . . in 2022 I got a visit from the parties, asking me if I was going to run and if I could run,” Johnson said. “It was a big deal. And it came out of the blue. And it was one after the other.”
Dwayne Johnson in Black Adam
“It was a big deal, and it came out of the blue,” he added.
“It was one after the other, and they brought up that poll, and they also brought up their own deep-dive research that would prove that should I ever go down that road [I’d be a real contender]. It was all very surreal because that’s never been my goal. My goal has never been to be in politics. As a matter of fact, there’s a lot about politics that I hate.”
However, Johnson didn’t rule out the probability in the future, as he told Noah that if that’s ultimately what the people would want, then of course he would consider it.
Arnold Schwarzenegger Thinks He Could Win the Presidency in 2024, But the Constitution Does Not Allow Him
Arnold Schwarzenegger said he could win in 2024 if the Constitution allowed him to run for it. Schwarzenegger told CNN’s Chris Wallace in an interview: (Via The Hollywood Reporter)
“The Constitution says that the President has to be a natural-born US citizen. If not for that, would you have run for president?” Wallace asked Schwarzenegger.
“Well, yes, of course,” Schwarzenegger responded.
“I mean, I think the field was wide open in 2016. And I think the field is open right now. I mean, think about it right now. I mean, who is there? There is really not a person that can bring everyone together. Who is here today that people say okay, he’s not too old or he’s not too this or too that, or is that because it’s now a question about who do you vote against then who do you vote for?”
Arnold Schwarzenegger as Governor of California
“You’re saying you would run for president in 2024?” Wallace pressed.
“Absolutely,” Schwarzenegger answered. “Put me in because it’s, look – it’s a no brainer. I see so clearly how I could win that election.”
“I mean, it’s like me and California,” he continued.
“And when that was, you know, running for governor, it was clear that people are looking for some new answer, not a right wing or left wing, but someone that can bring the nation together and doesn’t see the other party as the enemy…There’s just so many things that need to be done. And can be done. And what makes it so wonderful is because it’s doable. It’s all doable, or at least it’s just people coming together and say yes, we can do it.”
Article 2, Section 1, Clause 5 of the Constitution states that “No Person except a natural born Citizen, or a Citizen of the United States, at the time of the Adoption of this Constitution, shall be eligible to the Office of President.”
Schwarzenegger was born in Austria in 1947 and did not become a U.S. citizen until 1983. Consequently, he is ineligible to run for president, even though he has served as governor of California, from 2003 to 2011.