Arnold Schwarzenegger, former Republican governor of California and actor, has endorsed Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris and her running mate Tim Walz for the 2024 election, marking the first time he will not vote Republican since becoming a U.S. citizen in 1983.
In a lengthy post on social media platform X, Schwarzenegger emphasized his American identity over party affiliation, stating, “I will always be an American before I am a Republican.” The former governor acknowledged his disagreements with the Democratic platform but expressed his belief that Harris and Walz represent the best path forward for the country.
Schwarzenegger, who took a break from acting between 2003 and 2011 to serve as California’s governor, expressed his frustration with the lack of progress by those in power in the U.S. over recent decades. Despite frequent discussions on tackling the national debt and reforming the immigration system, actual action has been lacking. He argued that this pattern persists during election seasons, as politicians focus more on campaign rhetoric than on genuine public service that could improve Americans’ lives.
Schwarzenegger conveyed anger over this approach, emphasizing that while politics may feel like a game to politicians, it directly affects the lives of Americans. He criticized Trump as a candidate unwilling to respect votes unless they are in his favor, who incited followers to storm the Capitol as he watched with a Diet Coke, who has passed little policy beyond a tax cut that primarily benefited his wealthy supporters, and who views Americans who disagree with him as greater enemies than foreign adversaries like China, Russia, or North Korea—none of which, Schwarzenegger argued, will address the nation’s challenges.
A vocal critic of Trump, whom he succeeded as host of The New Celebrity Apprentice in 2016, Schwarzenegger has long opposed his actions, comparing the January 6 Capitol attack to Kristallnacht in Nazi Germany and calling Trump a failed leader who, he believes, will be remembered as the worst president in U.S. history.
Schwarzenegger added that if Trump were re-elected, it would result in another four years of ineffective governance, leading to increased anger, division, and hatred. He emphasized the need to close this chapter in American history, something he believes Trump would not achieve.
He expressed his desire for the country to progress, noting that despite his disagreements with their platform, he sees Harris and Walz as the only way forward.
Harris has actively sought endorsements from prominent Republicans who view the upcoming election as transcending traditional party politics. Schwarzenegger’s endorsement represents a significant cross-party alliance, particularly given his status as a former Republican governor of the nation’s most populous state, California.
