Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson is considering running for president.
“I think that it’s a real possibility,” the actor and former wrestler revealed to GQ magazine, referring to himself as an independent.
He said a year ago the question of whether he would run for president kept “coming up more and more.”
“There was a real sense of earnestness, which made me go home and think, ‘Let me really rethink my answer and make sure I am giving an answer that is truthful and also respectful.’ I didn’t want to be flippant — ‘We’ll have three days off for a weekend! No taxes!'” he said.
Hillary Clinton and President Trump’s presidential campaigns asked Johnson for endorsements during the election, he said. Johnson didn’t endorse either candidate.
“I feel like I’m in a position now where my word carries a lot of weight and influence, which of course is why they want the endorsement. But I also have a tremendous amount of respect for the process and felt like if I did share my political views publicly, a few things would happen — and these are all conversations I have with myself, in the gym at four o’clock in the morning — I felt like it would either A. make people unhappy with the thought of whatever my political view was. And, also, it might sway an opinion, which I didn’t want to do,” Johnson said.
He also offered feedback on Trump’s first few months in office.
“I’d like to see a better leadership. I’d like to see a greater leadership. When there’s a disagreement, and you have a large group of people that you’re in a disagreement with—for example, the media—I feel like it informs me that I could be better,” he said.
Johnson’s criticism of Trump turned sharper over the president’s immigration ban, which the actor “completely” disagrees with.
“I believe in our national security to the core, but I don’t believe in a ‘ban’ that bans immigrants. I believe in inclusion. Our country was built on that, and it continues to be made strong by that. And the decision felt like a snap judgment. I feel like the majority of, if not all, Americans feel that protection is of huge importance. But the ideology and the execution [of national-security initiatives] is where we really have to be careful of not making those snap decisions.”
