The people’s champion or the people’s president?
Professional wrestler and highest-paid male actor Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson announced on the Today Show that with enough support, he would potentially run for U.S. President.
From 17-time champion to People’s “Sexiest Man Alive,” Johnson’s wide-ranged resume might just have a new edition: President of the United States. His new NBC television series, “Young Rock,” shows an older, fictional Johnson running for president in 2032, teasing this idea.
In an interview with Willie Geist, that aired on April 18, Johnson said, “I do have that goal to unite our country and I also feel that if this is what the people want, then I will do that.”
“I am passionate about making sure our country is united, because a united country, as we know, is its strongest. And I want to see that for our country,” said Johnson.
His potential presidential run has quickly gained popularity, as a new poll shows that at least 46% of the almost 30 thousand adults surveyed would support the former WWE star.
On April 9, Johnson tweeted “Not sure our Founding Fathers ever envisioned a six-four, bald, tattooed, half-Black, half-Samoan, tequila drinking, pick up truck driving, fanny pack wearing guy joining their club – but if it ever happens it’d be my honor to serve the people”.
This is not the first time that the former WWE superstar teased a presidential run. When the topic was brought up in a 2017 GQ article he said it is “a real possibility.” While on “The Ellen Show” in 2017 he also said he is “seriously considering” a presidential run in the future.
Fear of having another non-politician president seems to be a common trend on Twitter. User @laurapy responded to one of The Rock’s tweets saying, “You’re a great guy, truly, but governing is really hard, and I’d really prefer someone with more experience with that. Consider…getting some experience in govt between now and then? Sit on a committee in your town/city, perhaps?”
User @alexterra03, however, proudly shows his support saying, “I’d vote for the people’s president”
In Sept. 2020, The Rock took to Instagram to publicly endorsed President Joseph R. Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, saying, “As a registered Independent for years now with centrist ideologies, I do feel that Vice President Biden and Sen. Harris are the best choice to lead our country, and I am endorsing them to become president and vice president.”
Another famous Hollywood star has also been considering running for office. Actor Matthew McConaughey is considering running for Texas Governor. In a CBS article, McConaughey said, “I would be a fool not to. It’s a very honorable thing to consider, you know, what that position would mean. What would it be for me, what would it mean for the people of Texas.”
According to the Texas Tribune, McConaughey has not taken part in the Texas primaries since 2012 and has not made any campaign donations. McConaughey has also openly expressed his frustrations with the two-party system, encouraging people to “get aggressively centric.”
Twitter user @drake_crump said, “Matthew McConaughey would win the Texas governor race by a landslide in 2022”.
These two would not be the first stars turned politicians. Former professional bodybuilder Arnold Schwarzenegger was Governor of California from Nov. 17, 2003, to Jan. 3, 2011. The Rock’s peer Glenn Jacobs, more popularly known as WWE’s Kane, is the current Mayor of Knox County, Tennessee. Most famously, former President Donald J. Trump was successful in building an empire not only in real estate but in the entertainment business.
Elisa D’Egidio is a senior studying criminal justice with a concentration in crime analysis and a minor in English. Elisa has been an active staff writer...