People has a new 100 Reasons to Love America issue. I guess they’ve been hired as America’s PR firm and this is their first roll out? People made Dwayne The Rock Johnson their #1 reason to love us. DJ is quite humbled by the honor, at least that’s what he said in his IG caption about the cover. DJ’s humbled by a lot, it’s probably the most used word in his interview. The photoshoot took place in Hawaii to honor his home state and it’s a beautiful shoot. He talks about facing discrimination both growing up and in the workplace. He talks glowingly about being a girl dad and loving his wife, Laura Hashian. Unfortunately, DJ also talks, yet again, about the possibility of his running for president.
He was just named PEOPLE’s No. 1 Reason to Love America – but Dwayne Johnson might have a bigger title in his future.
After one recent poll found that 46 percent of respondents would support the superstar and business mogul in a bid for president of the United States, Johnson, 49, insists it is a “humbling honor” to even be questioned about the prospect.
“I love our country to my core and I’m endlessly grateful for the opportunities I’ve had here, as a half-Black, half-Samoan kid being able to work my ass off knowing tenacity opens doors,” he tells PEOPLE in this week’s issue. “In a lot of ways, I’m indebted to our great country for it.”
The actor stresses he is “not a politician nor did I ever have political passions, and quite frankly I’m not sure I even have the patience or resignation to deal with the B.S. that comes with politics and politicians.”
“But,” he adds, “when 46 percent of Americans say they’re in favor of me becoming president, that forces me to humbly and respectfully stand up, listen and learn.”
I am on record as not wanting DJ to be president. I hope he doesn’t even run. I’m also not feeling this new pivot of his to make it seem like he’s only considering running because we want him to. He floated this line in February and here he’s adding, “not sure I even have the patience or resignation to deal with the B.S. that comes with politics and politicians.” I’d say he’s got the “B.S.” covered – he’s been talking about running for office since 2017.
I’ve said it before, but I think the thing that’s going to take DJ out of any kind of political race will be his movie career. In this People article, he said that anything he does needs to be in sync with his own beliefs but that, “what’s most important is if I feel like the people will enjoy it.” DJ is beloved now but all it will take for the mudslinging to start is for him to declare his candidacy. I don’t know if he would be able to stand the amount of hate he’d get simply because he became a political figure, deserved or not. DJ loves being loved. That’s not a bad thing and it’s something he’s good at. So he should just stick to that.
Photo credit: Instagram
I really like Dwayne but he should stop the President talk, he isn’t equipped in any way. He should just focus on helping to cast a black leading lady on one of his movie.
Yes, THIS. I do not want anymore unqualified celebrities running for President.
He’s as qualified as Caitlyn Jenner, though. (Or a former holder of that office, TBH.) But that’s a very low bar.
I’m a fan, but he needs to do the hard work of learning about politics and how to legislate first. Start out with City Council, then move to state delegate, then to governor or Congress, before a presidential run. I feel the same way about Matthew McConaughey, or any other celebrity who talks of running for president with no experience. They want to skip the hard work and go straight to the top. I hope to God we learned our lesson after four years of the reality show presidency. It’s not enough to launch a candidacy based on being “someone new” or a “different message.” We are teetering on the brink of losing our democracy, and the last thing we need in a leader is a neophyte with a zealous fandom. He needs to make his bones on the local level, where we can see for ourselves what he can bring to the table.
Perfectly said. Thank you for this.
Thanks @Pinellas Pixie. I just turned 68 and the last five years have scared the bejeebers out of me, as well as depressed me. I get very frightened when I hear these celebrities blithely talk of mounting a presidential campaign simply because their fans and sycophants tell them what they want to hear and give them a false sense of their abilities. I do love me some Rock, but if he was on the ballot right now, I would have to think long and hard about voting for him.
Yes, yes, yes! Love him so much but just because Trump managed not to actually kill us all, doesn’t mean that we should have another celebrity.
yep, you and Hecate are right on the mark for all the right reasons, he should not run.
because he’s so “humbled” we often forget how actually rich and powerful Dwayne is and with a certain level of privilege comes a disconnect from society no matter how familiar you are with the “real world”, either from exposure as an adult or your own past. i keep thinking the “people” around Dwayne are perhaps the ones kindling and rekindling this idea in him– and Dwayne is too “disconnected” now to realize what a bad idea it is, no matter his humble origins.
what do you guys think, do you think maybe his inner circle or manager/s are on board with this idea and feeding it, or is this all Dwayne? he can be over-eager at times…
I don’t see him as the sexiest man alive, or anything close. I guess it’s me. He doesn’t do it for me.
This President BULL isht really has me spinning. Get outta here! No. Please stop with this stuff. Politics is serious business no more celebrity asshats, please.
I totally agree with you. I don’t see him as the sexiest man alive either.
If you look at the roundtable Oya just put up, except for Chris Rock (who I just don’t like), every single man on that panel is 100 x sexier than Dwayne.
Hard agree. Unfortunately, in the U.S. the cult of personality reigns. While I sometimes don’t like how in my country we can’t vote for a person (you vote for the party instead, even if it’s generally pretty well understood who will become PM if they and/or the coalition gets power), it does keep the focus solely on the issues and platform. I generally prefer my politicians boring and experienced.
Darla I am with you on the President talk. When I saw that my first thought was that I cannot f*cking take any more celebrities running for high political office. He, McConaughey, all others…sit the f*ck down. If they truly wanted to make a difference they’d start at the local city level. But that wouldn’t serve their massive egos.
Same here, Green Desert. I’m fed up to the back teeth with these barely educated “celebs” thinking that they know enough to run this country (or state, as we know here in CA and MN -wasn’t that “Hulk Hogan”?)
If they are THAT determined to get in, start grass roots (City Council etc), and LEARN! Go back to school, learn Poli-Sci, Law…LEARN how it all works! GET SOME ACTUAL POLITICAL EXPERIENCE! This is NOT a popularity contest, there are real life consequences for your ego stroking!
JFC, Dwayne, STFD and STHU with this “president” stuff!
ETA: He just did a whole sit-com based on this premise: he is President and being “interviewed” about how he got to this place (his life story). I watched two shows (because I *did* like him as an actor/personality) and deleted it out of the DVR because it was SO bad.
I’m a fan, but he needs to do the hard work of learning about politics and how to legislate first. Start out with City Council, then move to state delegate, then to governor or Congress, before a presidential run. I feel the same way about Matthew McConaughey, or any other celebrity who talks of running for president with no experience. They want to skip the hard work and go straight to the top. I hope to God we learned our lesson after four years of the reality show presidency. It’s not enough to launch a candidacy based on being “someone new” or a “different message.” We are teetering on the brink of losing our democracy, and the last thing we need in a leader is a neophyte with a zealous fandom. He needs to make his bones on the local level, where we can see for ourselves what he can bring to the table.
He needs to be quiet, he’s in no way qualified for office and he should have the good sense to realise that regardless of what 46% of America says.
The entitlement stinks.
I see what you did there…
He sounds like a nice, thoughtful and giving person that appreciates everything he has achieved. But I will never vote for him because those attributes doesn’t mean he’s qualified to be president.
He can’t be worse than 45. Still I would rather have someone like Klobuchar. Pete is too smarmy for me, but would be a good back up. In retrospect I think Biden was the perfect fit for these times. He is just so warm and friendly. You cannot dislike him at least as a person. Maybe some don’t like his policies but it’s such nice break from non-stop outrage.
He needs to stop talking about this and concentrate on the movie career.
There’s nothing new or edgy about saying you don’t have patience for dealing with politicians – the last person to hold office literally went all the way to the White House with that bullshit and our country may never recover from the damage he managed to do in four years. It’s NOT funny and it is not a fresh, new take. I could give not a single fuck if 96% of the population thought you should run for President – it isn’t a movie role, and you can’t just go from a movie set to the highest political office in the land. Jaysus – it’s not hard.
It makes me really dislike him because it’s just a giant ego stroke for him. So irresponsible. When he finally acknowledges that he needs to learn how to govern people and make decisions on a local level before he can think bigger, then I’ll reconsider.
Precisely.
I used to really like him a lot. And now? Well. Every time I read anything about his delusions of grandeur, I like him less.
It boggles the mind that he thinks he is in any way qualified to run for this particular office. “Holy Dunning Kruger effect, Batman!” comes to mind. The same goes for Matthew McConaughey. They are just as pathetic and delusional as was Marianne Williamson but they’ll get further because they’re men. I just hope that they’re thwarted before they do too much damage.
Dwayne needs to take a seat. The notion that he should run is just….ugh.
Yes Frida! Love your whole comment, I thought of McConaughey too. And you’re right – they get a lot farther because they’re men.
McConaughey would be fine for Texas. But we have a real low bar.
THIS.
I adore Dwayne. But if he runs for prez, I know that will change.
It’s already changed for me. He keeps talking about this like it’s a good idea, and like Frida said above, we’re just starting to dig out from under the damage Trump did in just four years. So Dwayne isn’t a treason weasel and his narcissism isn’t the malignant kind like Donald’s, so what. An inexperienced idiot in office can do damage in a thousand different ways and I don’t want to experience any more of them. He needs to just stop with this nonsense.
If he wants to be President, then do the actual work. Start running for political offices that will prepare him to do the work of actual politics. But surprisingly, considering his work ethic, he doesn’t want to do that. On this he just wants the top prize that feeds his ego and maintains his image that he’s the good guy that everyone likes. No thanks. I like him, but he’s not going to like having to pick a position on any subject and run towards that goal and then have people dislike him because of it.
World leadership positions aren’t – or shouldn’t be – fun retirement hobbies for aging actors. “Should I take up golf, collect model trains, or run for president?” They aren’t an award like the Oscars where actors are further rewarded for showing up to work. I think it gives them the idea that being president is just another perk they can campaign for. Something to enhance the brand. It shouldn’t be a vanity project. “All my fans think President would be a good look for me!” A thorough knowledge of law, economics and world affairs plus political experience is kind of a minimum.
Hopefully though he doesn’t really want to run and is just being encouraged by a savvy PR person to vaguely talk around the idea to make headlines.
On the plus side, he could totally win an arm wrestling contest with Putin – if he weren’t poisoned first. Dealing with tyrannous dictators who regularly threaten the world’s safety is a little more complex than reading a script or pumping iron. If he’s really serious, he can run for city council and work his way up.
Not only is DJ NOT equipped to be president but…
And someone please correct me if they feel I’m waaay off base…
If he were to run AND win, unless he completely fell in line with the Republicans he would experience the full wrath of the conservative media. If he had so much as an inkling of a progressive policy, they would quickly remind him that he’s a POC who should know his “place”.
I’m sure a lot of conservatives love DJ right now because he’s a captivating entertainer. However, that would change in a heartbeat the minute Fox, OAN and Newsmax decide Dwayne is a “danger” to our country and oh by the way, have you seen the color of his skin? He may not have even been born here. They would drag him through the mud and their minions would nod and obey.
Barack Obama was a rather moderate Democrat and look at how they treated him.
Again, correct me if I’m wrong.
i see zero lies
Dwayne, if you’re reading this, just no. Don’t do it. Worst idea ever. 46% is a sht number gotten from a shtstudy with a sht question like should trump run again or would u prefer the rock? asked to 200 18 years old democrats, on january 7th 2021. Dont fall for it.
I don’t understand his appeal
No Dwayne, no. You don’t put somebody whose learning to ride a tricycle in the middle of the Tour De France. No more learn as you go presidents please. While I understand the need to have fresh perspective and an outside voice and all that, there is just too much at stake in this age. There was a reason that Putin wanted that dummy Trump in office.
Dear Dwayne: Box office does not equal Oval Office.
Perfect.
LOVE this comment!
Oh yeah.
Such a good comment.
There is something about Dwayne Johnson that I have never liked. I can’t put my finger on what it is about him that turns me off. I view him as a well crafted public relations persona and not as a genuine individual. In my opinion, he thought about what is the most winning personality and perfected it. He knows what the general public likes to see and hear. Now that he has been successful with it, his ego is testing the waters with the qualified lie; “I will run for president if the
people want me too”. What people do you know that says they want him to run? No one. However, if he ran and some how won, then we will see the real Dwayne Johnson.
i am actually a fan of his but i’m a critical fan and i know exactly what element of him you’re alluding to. i, too, cannot quite put my finger on it, but i think it explains why i’ve never been *attracted* to him even though i admire him…i sense something “phoney”.
he’s a very smart person who is very egotistical, he just happens to have the charisma and intelligence to get away with that ego.
i actually think you brought out a good point: if he DID run, we would see more of “The Real Dwayne Johnson” — and most fans of his DON’T actually want to see it, whether they realize it or not. i certainly don’t. i very much enjoy his stage persona/s but he’s an egotistical and calculating person. on a more sympathetic side, i’d worry for the effect on his mental health that politics would have. again, another reason he can “get away” with being so narcissistic and audacious is because his mental health is otherwise pretty good or “under control” (at least as far as we know. btw he strikes me as a control freak)
It reminds me of GOT, when they’re pumping Viserys ego about him retaking the iron throne and that’s what all the little people are talking about, when they really aren’t. Who is the person whispering in Dwayne’s ear about this?
Trix, i just commented the exact same thing, but minus the GOT metaphor! who IS whispering in his ear and feeding that little idea?
No more talking penises in politics please.
I know your ego says yes Dwayne, but you’re qualifications say NO!
There really needs to be universal laws regarding who can run for office. You must have an education, years of some sort of political experience (even if it’s volunteer), and not just be some rich celeb. They should have to write some sort of written exam regarding the history of their country and world history/geography as well. I mean sh*t, McDonald’s has more rules to apply for a job than politics does. Politics is just a popularity contest. This is stupid. It needs to stop.
Oh please no. We don’t need another celebrity in politics.
NO. He is not qualified and need to cut out the steroids. His head and face are terrible due to the substances he takes. Not the look.
steroids? nah dude the rock is just built different
(this is sarcasm. also: do we want a narcissist who lies about not taking steroids in order to uphold his public image/persona to be in charge of *not-lying* about globally important things? that’s a trump 2.0 scenario on paper)
WOW! What a narcissist he is.
He gives me such bad vibes, tbh. I enjoy him as an actor and he’s charming enough. But there’s something about him I can’t quite put my finger on. He seems fake nice, tbh. And the fact that he’s a republican gives me chills.