As if this presidential election weren’t crazy enough, now “Terminator” star and former California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger says if not for his birth outside this country, he would be running for the Oval Office this year. He even thinks 2016 would have been the perfect opportunity for “The Running Man” to … well, run.
“If I’d been born in America, I would’ve run,” the actor recently told Adweek. He added, “Because now? This was a very good time to get in the race.”
After this year, anything is possible.
Since leaving office as a two-term governor of California, Schwarzenegger has struggled to maintain his A-list status as a leading man in film with flops like “Terminator Genisys” and “The Last Stand” marring his record. Politically, he’s become even more irrelevant as he endorsed John Kasich for the 2016 Republican presidential nomination and supports many liberal policies, including gun control and carbon taxes.
Still, the idea of Schwarzenegger standing on some stage somewhere making movie puns and using his famous Austrian accent to promote a “Terminator”-led White House at least makes this presidential race seem more interesting — which is hard to do, considering the 24-hour news cycle is rife with daily fresh material.
While Schwarzenegger may have been a disappointment to his state, his party, and conservatives, the idea of a celebrity bidding for political office is far from a crazy notion. Trump has his own level of celebrity thanks to reality series like “The Celebrity Apprentice,” a show Schwarzenegger will now be hosting come January.
We may not see a Schwarzenegger ticket in 2020 or any other year, but there are plenty of other right-leaning celebs who have run on celebrity and actually made positive changes once in office. There are also plenty without political experience who are likely looking forward to a future leap into the political rat race.
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Who would have thought the professional wrestler most famous for uttering the line, “I ain’t got time to bleed” in 1987’s “Predator” would one day be a full-fledged governor? Jesse “The Body” Ventura’s experience as a boisterous wrestler and tough-guy bit actor may not have made up the typical resume a politician needs, but Minnesota bought into the idea and gave the governorship to him in 1998.
Though his opponents spent $5 million, Ventura only needed $250,000 to get elected to his one term in office. Thanks to extra media attention and a fed-up voting populace, Ventura was elected on the platform that the two-party system had failed the state and he was there to shake things up.
Elected under the Reform Party, Ventura had only a few minor successes as governor (including the construction of a public transport rail system). He was mostly known for lashing out at political rivals and secluding himself to his home. Still, he remained far more entertaining than Schwarzenegger during his political career and wasn’t known as a total failure. He even convinced Donald Trump to explore the possibility of a 2000 presidential run under the Reform Party.
There’s one Republican celebrity politician we’re sure nearly every conservative would prefer on a ticket as an alternative to Schwarzenegger. We all know Clint Eastwood for his infamous characters like The Man with No Name and Dirty Harry, and for directing hit movies including “American Sniper” and “Sully” — but many also know him as a former mayor.
Eastwood presided over Carmel-by-the-Sea, California, for one term, from 1986 to 88. The longtime Republican ran with the slogan: “Bringing the Community Together.” His motivation to run came from his town’s ban on selling ice cream on public streets. Seeing the move as government overreach, Eastwood ran, won, and repealed the ban. He’s still a business owner and resident in the city. His famous grimace on a political sign would be welcome anytime.
Another celeb with political aspirations is “Frasier” actor and outspoken Republican Kelsey Grammer. He has often noted he would like to run for Congress. As recently as 2013, he told The Guardian, “That still may happen.”
Related: Red Sox Legend Curt Schilling to Take on Elizabeth Warren
Former Red Sox pitcher and current Breitbart News employee Curt Schilling has also said he envisions a political future for himself, specifically challenging liberal Sen. Elizabeth Warren.
And as far as a 2020 ticket is concerned, reported registered Republican and tough guy Dwayne Johnson has long been courted by fans, and some Republicans, as a candidate for political office. “I can’t deny that the thought of being governor, the thought of being president, is alluring,” he said.
Maybe the future will bring us a reality where The Rock is facing off against fellow celebrity Kanye West — who has also expressed interest in running for president. After this year, anything is possible.
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