In a recent episode of Trevor Noah's Spotify podcast, What Now?, Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson disclosed that multiple political parties approached him in 2022 to gauge his interest in running for President.
During the podcast conversation, Noah brought up a 2021 political poll indicating that 46 percent of U.S. adults would support Johnson's presidential campaign. The actor expressed his surprise and gratitude, stating he "was really blown away" and
"really honored."
He went on to reveal that both major political parties visited him at the end of 2022, inquiring about his willingness to run for office.
You can hear what he said in the video below.
Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson | What Now? with Trevor Noah Video Podcastyoutu.be
Johnson said:
“It was a big deal, and it came out of the blue. It was one after the other, and they brought up that poll, and they also brought up their own deep-dive research that would prove that should I ever go down that road [I’d be a real contender]."
"It was all very surreal because that’s never been my goal. My goal has never been to be in politics. As a matter of fact, there’s a lot about politics that I hate.”
Johnson's stance echoes his sentiments expressed in previous interviews, emphasizing a hesitancy to enter the political arena. He highlighted the importance of his role as a father, a factor that has consistently influenced his decision not to pursue a political career.
Johnson explained that his commitment to being present for his daughters during crucial moments in their lives took precedence over any political aspirations.
In a discussion about his 22-year-old daughter, Simone, Johnson shared:
“With my 22-year-old daughter, Simone, we like to say that we grew up together. I know what it’s like to be in an occupation that took me away. As a pro wrestler full-time, I was wrestling 230 dates a year for years as she came into the world."
"So I know what it’s like to have that separation and not be there for the birthdays, for the pickups, the drop-offs, and everything else. And I don’t want that for my little ones now.”
“That was one of my primary discussions with the parties, who were ultimately like, ‘Yeah, but the other ones have done it like this.'"
The news that Johnson had been approached to run garnered mixed reactions online.
Johnson has described himself as a “centrist” and “political independent,” and publicly endorsed President Joe Biden in 2020.
In 2021, responding to the aforementioned poll in which Americans expressed support for a hypothetical Johnson campaign, he said it would be an "honor" to serve the people even though he does not think "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."
The following year, however, he told CBS Sunday Morning that the "most important thing to me is being a daddy, number one, especially during this time, this critical time in my daughters’ lives."
Jane Rosenberg
Jane Rosenberg
@arianagrande/Instagram
@arianagrande/Instagram