Arnold Schwarzenegger, the former Republican Governor of California, has made a surprising announcement.
He has declared his intention to vote for Kamala Harris and Tim Walz in the 2024 presidential election.
This comes as a shock, considering Schwarzenegger's refusal to vote for Donald Trump in 2016.
According to the Daily Mail, Schwarzenegger shared his endorsement on a Wednesday, stating, "I dont really do endorsements. Im not shy about sharing my views, but I hate politics and dont trust most politicians." Despite his disdain for politics, the 77-year-old Terminator star believes it's time for the country "to move forward," and sees Harris and Walz as the key to this progression.
Schwarzenegger expressed his belief that the country needs to "close the door on this chapter of American history," referring to the Trump era. He stated, "He [Trump] will divide, he will insult, he will find new ways to be more un-American than he already has been, and we, the people, will get nothing but more anger."
In his extensive announcement, Schwarzenegger criticized both political parties. He accused his fellow Republicans of forgetting the beauty of the free market, driving up deficits, and rejecting election results. He also criticized Democrats for their handling of deficits and expressed concern over their local policies causing increased crime in cities.
Schwarzenegger also addressed a controversial comment made by comedian Tony Hinchcliffe at a Trump rally at Madison Square Garden, where Hinchcliffe referred to Puerto Rico as "an island of garbage". Schwarzenegger, who frequently communicates with people worldwide, found this comment unpatriotic and infuriating. He stated, "And I will always be an American before I am a Republican. Thats why, this week, I am voting for Kamala Harris and Tim Walz."
Schwarzenegger's endorsement of Harris and Walz is not his first public denouncement of Trump. Following the January 6 Capitol riots in 2021, Schwarzenegger labeled Trump the "worst president ever". He compared the MAGA riot to Kristallnacht, a night of mass attacks on Jews in Austria and Germany that foreshadowed the Holocaust. Schwarzenegger called for Trump's elected enablers to be "held accountable" and urged unity behind President-elect Joe Biden.
Schwarzenegger, who served as the 38th governor of California from 2003 to 2011, rarely endorses political candidates. He previously endorsed Ohio Governor John Kasich as the Republican presidential ticket in 2020, comparing Kasich's governing style to the "compassionate conservatism" of former President George W. Bush.
Schwarzenegger's endorsement for Harris echoes his political stance in October 2016, during Trump's first presidential campaign. Schwarzenegger joined a list of prominent Republicans who denounced Trump and declared he would not vote for him. Despite Schwarzenegger's opposition, Trump won the election against Democrat Hillary Clinton.
In the lead-up to the 2020 election, Schwarzenegger expressed doubt that he would vote for Trump in his race against Joe Biden. His recent statement confirms his intention to vote blue in 2024.
Despite his criticisms, Schwarzenegger stated in a 2023 interview that he still identifies with the Republican Party and urged people to stop "villainizing" those they disagree with. He said, "There is some people that are extreme. But there's no reason to villainize anybody."
Schwarzenegger, an Austrian native who became a naturalized citizen in 1983, has previously expressed his desire to run for president. However, as only natural-born citizens can become president or vice-president, this is impossible for him. Schwarzenegger, who was married to Maria Shriver of the Kennedy family, revealed his intention to vote Democrat just six days before the election.
Schwarzenegger and Shriver, the niece of the 35th President of the United States, John F. Kennedy, met at a tennis match in August 1977. They got engaged in Austria in 1985 and married the following year at the Kennedy family home in Massachusetts. During their 25-year marriage, they had four children: Katherine, Christina, Patrick, and Christopher.
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