Conservatives' efforts to recruit a candidate to compete against Donald Trump may have only been able to come up with David French, a National Review writer, who is merely contemplating the possibility of running.
But last week, a new potential candidate stepped up to the stage, if not for this race, possibly for a future one. Dwayne Johnson, the actor formerly known by his professional wrestling moniker The Rock, told British GQ that he's considered a different kind of career.
"I'll be honest, I haven't ruled politics out. I'm not being coy when I say that, but at the moment I am not sure," Johnson said. "I can't deny that the thought of being governor, the thought of being president, is alluring. And beyond that, it would be an opportunity to make a real impact on people's lives on a global scale. But there are a lot of other things I want to do first."
The prospect of yet another former reality television star running for higher office may feel improbable at best and horrifying at worst, given Trump's performance in the 2016 campaign thus far. And I can't vouch for Johnson's position on the issues -- though he's registered as a Republican and has appeared at the Republican convention to boost voter registration, he's generally talked less about actual policy and spent more time flashing his famously winning smile:
But just as I was an early champion of Johnson's acting abilities -- he's fascinating as a gay, closeted driver in "Be Cool," mesmerizing as a an amnesiac who is not doing well in the post-apocalypse in "Southland Tales" and one of the funniest parts of Michael Bay's wildly underrated "Pain & Gain" -- I've long thought that Johnson had a weirdly plausible path to a political career.
He grew up all around the country because of his father's job but makes his home in Florida, an important state in presidential election years and the place where he played football for the University of Miami. (The locker room was named for him after he made a major donation).
Since his pivot to movie stardom, Johnson has become one of the most consistently likable celebrities in America, as measured by the Q Scores Company; he'd begin any race not just with high name recognition, but also with high favorable ratings. Johnson is even descended from James Bowles, a free black man who fought with the British during the Revolutionary War when the kingdom offered land and freedom to black Americans who joined their side. (His mother's side of the family is Samoan.)
For a Republican Party that was desperate to woo nonwhite voters before Donald Trump tossed his hair in the ring, and will be even harder-pressed to woo them once our present mess is over, Johnson could be the sort of person the GOP tries to renovate into a viable candidate.
If he doesn't have policy or issue bona fides, Johnson's relative silence on substance also means he doesn't have a record that can be used to tar him as some sort of flip-flopper. And he could also make a series of carefully selected charitable and political donations designed to start building a record of positions. It's easier to teach talking points than charisma, as Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, experienced earlier this year.
Of course, if he really was going to try to follow Ronald Reagan's path to the presidency, Johnson would certainly have to run for something else first. And he could do it as early as this year: Johnson has until June 24 to get on the primary ballot in Florida and join the candidates who are competing for the Senate seat Marco Rubio decided to vacate when he ran for president.
The prospect of The Rock sitting through committee hearings might be vaguely ridiculous, and a governorship would probably require him to take fewer potentially damaging votes. But the lesson of this year in American politics is that stranger things can always happen. And Trump is proof that if our politics are turning into reality-television competitions, the results could always be worse.
The Washington Post
Wed Jun 08 2016
![Dwayne Johnson says he might want to run for president; he could actually win Dwayne Johnson says he might want to run for president; he could actually win](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2016-01/71453860211_DwayneJohnson.jpg)
Dwayne Johnson, also known as The Rock, said he's considered a different kind of career and haven't ruled politics out.
![Sembilan orang termasuk kanak-kanak cedera ditembak di Michigan Sembilan orang termasuk kanak-kanak cedera ditembak di Michigan](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-06/71718532766_TBDetroit.jpg)
Sembilan orang termasuk kanak-kanak cedera ditembak di Michigan
Sekurang-kurangnya sembilan orang termasuk seorang kanak-kanak berusia lapan tahun cedera dalam insiden tembakan di bandar Rochester Hills, Michigan, Amerika Syarikat.
![EURO 2024: Poland tampil tanpa tonggak utama, sedia berdepan Belanda malam ini EURO 2024: Poland tampil tanpa tonggak utama, sedia berdepan Belanda malam ini](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-06/41718527637_tbPolandEURO.jpg)
EURO 2024: Poland tampil tanpa tonggak utama, sedia berdepan Belanda malam ini
Poland dikatakan 'mesti menang' ke atas Belanda sebelum dijadual berdepan Austria pada 21 Jun dan Perancis, empat hari kemudian.
![Op Lancar 2024: Hampir 100,000 kenderaan memasuki LPT dalam tempoh dua hari Op Lancar 2024: Hampir 100,000 kenderaan memasuki LPT dalam tempoh dua hari](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-06/71718528879_tbPlazaTol.jpg)
Op Lancar 2024: Hampir 100,000 kenderaan memasuki LPT dalam tempoh dua hari
Sebanyak 91,700 kenderaan menggunakan Lebuh Raya Pantai Timur 2 (LPT2) sepanjang dua hari pelaksanaan Op Lancar Hari Perayaan Aidiladha 2024.
![Zii Jia juara Terbuka Australia Zii Jia juara Terbuka Australia](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-06/81718531837_TBLeeZiiJia.jpg)
Zii Jia juara Terbuka Australia
Bekas juara All England itu bagaimanapun tidak diberikan laluan mudah seteru di ranking keenam dunia sebelum mengatasi cabaran Naraoka menerusi aksi tiga set 21-19,11-21,21-18.
91,700 kenderaan guna LPT2, meningkat sehingga 60 peratus
Ketua Polis Terengganu Datuk Mohd Khairi Khairudin berkata sebanyak 91,700 kenderaan menggunakan Lebuh Raya Pantai Timur 2 (LPT2) sepanjang dua hari pelaksanaan Op Lancar Hari Perayaan Aidiladha 2024.
Ibu Menteri Pendidikan selamat dikebumikan
Allahyarham Siti Zalikhah meninggal dunia di Hospital Serdang pada 9.30 pagi tadi dan disahkan oleh Pejabat Menteri Pendidikan menerusi hantaran di laman Facebook Fadhlina.
Tiga syarikat pengangkutan naik harga akan didakwa minggu depan
Tiga syarikat pengangkutan di Melaka yang gagal memberikan penjelasan kewajaran tindakan menaikkan harga perkhidmatan dalam Op Kesan 2.0 yang dilaksanakan sejak 6 Jun lepas bakal didakwa di mahkamah minggu depan.
Tragedi abang maut ditembak di depan mata terus menghantui
Tragedi seorang anggota tentera sukarela Thailand ditembak di depan mata pada April lalu ketika umat Islam masih dalam suasana sambutan Hari Raya Aidilfitri masih menghantui keluarganya.
Lelaki tikam ibu dengan gunting direman tujuh hari
Lelaki yang dipercayai menikam ibunya hingga maut menggunakan gunting di sebuah pangsapuri di Relau di George Town petang Sabtu direman selama tujuh hari.
Tumpahan minyak di pantai Singapura giat dibersihkan
Pegawai Lembaga Taman Negara (NParks) dikerah ke beberapa pantai awam di Singapura sejak semalam selepas limpahan minyak dikesan mendekati pantai di East Coast Park, Keppel Bay, Pulau Lazarus dan Sentosa.
![Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson dilantik ahli Lembaga Pengarah TKO Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson dilantik ahli Lembaga Pengarah TKO](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-01/71706110021_Dwayne.jpg)
Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson dilantik ahli Lembaga Pengarah TKO
Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson dilantik sebagai ahli Lembaga Pengarah TKO Group Holdings, iaitu syarikat yang dibentuk oleh Endeavour yang menggabungkan WWE dan UFC.
![Kes Baldwin: Dwayne Johnson bertegas tidak mahu senjata api sebenar di set penggambaran Kes Baldwin: Dwayne Johnson bertegas tidak mahu senjata api sebenar di set penggambaran](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2020-09/61599112755_DwayneJohnson.jpg)
Kes Baldwin: Dwayne Johnson bertegas tidak mahu senjata api sebenar di set penggambaran
Johnson berkata syarikat produksinya, Seven Bucks Productions, tidak lagi akan menggunakan senjata api sebenar.
![The Rock imbas momen diberi peluang kedua yang mengubah hidupnya The Rock imbas momen diberi peluang kedua yang mengubah hidupnya](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2020-09/61599112755_DwayneJohnson.jpg)
The Rock imbas momen diberi peluang kedua yang mengubah hidupnya
Johnson berkongsi klip dari rancangan televisyen 'Young Rock', yang memberi penghormatan kepada mendiang jurulatihnya.
![The Rock, dulu dibuli kini selebriti The Rock, dulu dibuli kini selebriti](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2021-01/71611472672_DwayneJohnson.jpg)
The Rock, dulu dibuli kini selebriti
Bret Hart (penggusti dalam WWF) pernah menceritakan dua peggusti legenda, Triple H dan Shawn Michaels pernah membuli Johnson ketika dia baru sahaja menjadi penggusti.
![The Rock, keluarga pulih daripada COVID-19 The Rock, keluarga pulih daripada COVID-19](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2020-09/61599112755_DwayneJohnson.jpg)
The Rock, keluarga pulih daripada COVID-19
"Ini adalah salah satu perkara yang paling mencabar dan sukar yang harus kami harungi sebagai sebuah keluarga." - The Rock
![Rocky Johnson, ayah 'The Rock' meninggal dunia Rocky Johnson, ayah 'The Rock' meninggal dunia](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2020-01/71579142117_RockyJohnsonThe.jpg)
Rocky Johnson, ayah 'The Rock' meninggal dunia
Ayah kepada bintang filem Dwayne -The Rock- Johnson itu menghembuskan nafas terakhirnya awal hari ini pada usia 75 tahun.
![Dah tiga kali The Rock 'meninggal dunia'... Dah tiga kali The Rock 'meninggal dunia'...](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2018-04/51522927491_DwayneJohnson.jpg)
Dah tiga kali The Rock 'meninggal dunia'...
Sebelum ini The Rock turut menjadi mangsa berita palsu apabila didakwa meninggal dunia pada 2011 dan 2014.
![UFC 244: Jorge Masvidal tumpaskan Nate Diaz untuk raih gelaran BMF UFC 244: Jorge Masvidal tumpaskan Nate Diaz untuk raih gelaran BMF](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2019-11/61572763108_TBJorgeMasvida.jpg)
UFC 244: Jorge Masvidal tumpaskan Nate Diaz untuk raih gelaran BMF
Jorge Masvidal berjaya meraih gelaran BMF selepas mengalahkan rakan senegaranya, Nate Diaz dalam aksi UFC 244 di Madison Square Garden, New York, pada Ahad.
![Akhirnya...The Rock tamatkan status duda! Akhirnya...The Rock tamatkan status duda!](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2019-08/41566576003_therockbefunky-collage.jpg)
Akhirnya...The Rock tamatkan status duda!
Pelakon dan bekas ahli gusti profesional, Dwayne Johnson menamatkan status dudanya apabila mengahwini teman wanitanya, Lauren Hashian pada Ahad lalu.
![Fast & Furious kembali dengan filem baharu Fast & Furious kembali dengan filem baharu](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2019-02/41549158546_HobbsAndShaw.jpg)
Fast & Furious kembali dengan filem baharu
Francais filem itu akan kembali dengan satu filem aksi komedi iaitu Fast & Furious: Hobbs & Shaw.