Arnold Schwarzenegger says he would’ve made a great U.S. President

The Austrian bodybuilding action icon got far into politics without actually becoming president. However, he reflects on why he would’ve been a great one.

Last Updated on October 27, 2023

arnold Schwarzenegger, president

Arnold Schwarzenegger continues to make the rounds to promote his new book, Be Useful: Seven Tools for Life. His book, plus the latest Netflix documentary, Arnold, pays tribute to the former Mr. Universe’s never-ending drive that landed him bodybuilding championships, made him the king of the box office, and, of course, got him elected as Governor of California. While Demolition Man made a semi-prophetic joke about Schwarzenegger becoming a politician, the joke would involve the Terminator actor amending the constitution in order to become president.

Variety reports that the former Conan the Barbarian would talk about his political introspective in an interview with the BBC. “I feel like I would make a great president. Everything I’ve accomplished was because of America,” Schwarzenegger stated. Although the star feels very commonplace now, the Arnold documentary revealed every perceived shortcoming that Schwarzenegger had to overcome when people counted him out. His hulking physique was thought to scare audiences and his conspicuous accent was thought to hinder his acting and cause unintentional laughter.

Schwarzenegger makes no secret about how much he loves this country. “America gave me so many opportunities and the American people were so embracive, and they just received me with open arms. There was no one there that stopped me from my success. So the only thing that I can’t do, which is run for president, I’m not going to complain about that,” he stated. He would then continue to admit that he would be “a little bit selfish if I go out and try to change the law.”

While the Demolition Man in-joke wouldn’t actually come to fruition, Schwarzenegger is still attempting to contribute what he can to presidential politics as he speaks on what he would like to see in the upcoming election. “I just hope that America finds some really young blood. Because to me, it is a little bit odd that we are having a battle between people today in the late 70s and early 80s, rather than people in the 40s and 50s or maybe even younger and have them have a chance at this great, great job.”

Arnold’s book, Be Useful: Seven Tools for Life, is now available.

Source: Variety, BBC News

About the Author

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E.J. is a News Editor at JoBlo, as well as a Video Editor, Writer, and Narrator for some of the movie retrospectives on our JoBlo Originals YouTube channel, including Reel Action, Revisited and some of the Top 10 lists. He is a graduate of the film program at Missouri Western State University with concentrations in performance, writing, editing and directing.