Arnold Schwarzenegger has said he would make a "great" U.S. president, but since he isn't legally allowed to run for office, he's hoping "young blood" will emerge from the next election.
In a new interview with the BBC, the Hollywood actor and former Governor of California explained that while he thinks he would be a good fit for the Oval Office, he is not resentful over being disqualified from entering the presidential race due to his Austrian heritage, as the position requires candidates to be natural-born citizens.
"I feel like I would make a great president," he said, adding that "everything I've accomplished was because of America".
"America gave me so many opportunities, and the American people were so embracive, and they just received me with open arms. There was no one there that stopped me from my success," he continued. "So the only thing that I can't do, which is run for president, I'm not going to complain about that."
Schwarzenegger admitted that it would be "selfish" of him to "try to change the law", and he thinks U.S. politics needs a shake-up.
"I just hope that America finds some really young blood," he said of the presidential race. "Because to me, it is a little bit odd that we are having a battle between people today in the late 70s and early 80s, rather than people in the 40s and 50s or maybe even younger and have them have a chance at this great, great job."
This isn't the first time Schwarzenegger has spoken publicly about US politics and presidency. He told CNN's Chris Wallace this past June that he would love to throw his hat in the ring for the next presidential election in 2024 and is confident that he could secure enough votes to take up the United States' highest office.
"Put me in because it's a no-brainer. I see so clearly how I could win that election," he declared. "I mean, it's like me and California when I was running for governor. It was clear that people were looking for some new answer, not a right-wing or a left-wing politician, but someone who could bring the nation together."
This isn't the first time Schwarzenegger has spoken publicly about U.S. politics and presidency. He told CNN's Chris Wallace this past June that he would love to throw his hat in the ring for the next presidential election in 2024 and is confident that he could secure enough votes to take up the United States' highest office.
"Put me in because it's a no-brainer. I see so clearly how I could win that election," he declared. "I mean, it's like me and California when I was running for governor. It was clear that people were looking for some new answer, not a right-wing or a left-wing politician, but someone who could bring the nation together."
For now, though, Schwarzenegger will have to stick with being Netflix's Chief Action Officer, working around the clock to bring "the best action on earth" to subscribers, including his latest, FUBAR, which premiered on May 25. IGN called it "a comical spy-adventure series that entertains despite the repetitive nature of its premise".
Adele Ankers-Range is a freelance entertainment writer for IGN. You can follow her on X @AdeleAnkers.
