Dwayne Johnson Addresses Possibility of Running for President

Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson has been busy promoting his latest film The Smashing Machine, a project that has earned him strong reviews for his portrayal of former MMA fighter Mark Kerr.

While discussing the role on Variety’s Awards Circuit podcast, Johnson opened up not only about acting but also about life lessons and the possibility of entering politics one day.

When asked how he stays hopeful during times when the world feels unsettled, Johnson recalled advice from a family member. “My uncle said to me a couple of months ago: ‘It’s going to be okay. We’re going to be okay.’ That stuck with me.” He also shared a phrase he learned on set that he calls “radical empathy.”

Johnson explained that if people can feel compassion for someone who appears untouchable, like Kerr, they can extend that same empathy to anyone. “Once you have that, the judging starts to go away. The noise dies down,” he said.

The actor added that this is something he’s even tried to pass on to his daughter Simone. “I said, ‘It’s going to be okay. Let’s talk. We’ve got this,’” Johnson noted.

The conversation then shifted to the question many have asked before: would Johnson ever run for president? His answer was open-ended. “It’s wild, man. I’m always honored when people ask that. I love what I do. I love storytelling. But yeah… we’ll see.”

This isn’t the first time Johnson has addressed politics. Earlier in his life, he admitted that he didn’t vote for a long stretch of his adulthood and only registered at 28. In 2020, he publicly supported Joe Biden, last year he said that decision created more division than he expected.

In a past interview with Fox News, Johnson reflected on that moment: “The endorsement that I made years ago with Biden was one I thought was the best decision for me at that time. But what that caused was something that tears me up in my guts — which is division. That got me.”

In the 2024 election, Johnson made it clear he won’t back any candidate. “At this level of influence, I will keep my politics to myself. It is between me and the ballot box,” he said. While stressing that he wants to see unity in the country, Johnson also admitted he is unhappy with today’s social climate, citing cancel culture, political division, and what he sees as a growing lack of understanding.

Johnson is clearly keeping his options open without making promises, and that’s probably smart. He knows the influence he carries, but he doesn’t seem eager to step fully into politics right now. Personally, I think his focus on empathy and unity is refreshing compared to the usual political talk.

But what do you think, should The Rock actually run for president, or should he stay in Hollywood? Share your thoughts in the comments.