Arnold Schwarzenegger, for his entire career as a movie star, was an outspoken Republican, often speaking of how his upbringing in Austria, behind the Iron Curtain, made him despise Communism. In 2003, he was elected governor of California in a special recall election, ultimately serving seven years in office and remaining California’s last Republican governor to date.
Ever since the rise of Donald Trump, Schwarzenegger has been a strong critic of Trump and Trumpism. He called Trump “the worst president ever” after the Capitol riot in 2021, which he compared to Kristallnacht.
Finally took the time to watch the Governator’s speech. Definitely the finest of his political career. Thank you, Mr. Schwarzenegger pic.twitter.com/RHqzEZeTZr
— Thaddeus D. Matula (@thadfilms) January 14, 2021
Schwarzenegger, ironically, was Trump’s short-lived successor as the host of The Apprentice, the low ratings of which Trump frequently mocked him.
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Despite his distaste for Trump, Arnold did not endorse his opponents in 2016 or 2020.
However, on Wednesday Schwarzenegger announced in a long message on X that he is backing the Harris-Walz ticket. In doing so, he made it clear that his underlying political views haven’t much changed since his Reagan-era rise.
I don’t really do endorsements. I’m not shy about sharing my views, but I hate politics and don’t trust most politicians.
I also understand that people want to hear from me because I am not just a celebrity, I am a former Republican Governor.
My time as Governor taught me to…
— Arnold (@Schwarzenegger) October 30, 2024
“Let me be honest with you: I don’t like either party right now,” the actor said in the message. “My Republicans have forgotten the beauty of the free market, driven up deficits, and rejected election results. Democrats aren’t any better at dealing with deficits, and I worry about their local policies hurting our cities with increased crime.”
He added that he would like to “tune out,” but he can’t, for several reasons.
“Because rejecting the results of an election is as un-American as it gets. To someone like me who talks to people all over the world and still knows America is the shining city on a hill, calling America is a trash can for the world is so unpatriotic, it makes me furious. And I will always be an American before I am a Republican. That’s why, this week, I am voting for Kamala Harris and Tim Walz.”
He closed by adding that even if people disagree with him, they should still sign up to vote.
Photo courtesy of Political Tribune media library.
