Schwarzenegger’s Shocking Plan: How He Could Still Run for President Despite Constitutional Barriers!

Arnold Schwarzenegger—bodybuilder, blockbuster star, and former California governor—has never shied away from big ambitions. In recent years, he’s added another to the list: running for president of the United States. There’s just one catch: the U.S. Constitution says he can’t. Born in Austria, not America, Schwarzenegger is barred from the Oval Office, but that hasn’t stopped him from imagining what he could do if given the chance. In a series of 2023 interviews, the 77-year-old laid out his case, blending confidence in his electability with a surprising call for younger leadership in the 2024 race.

The Constitutional Roadblock

Article II, Section 1, Clause 5 of the U.S. Constitution is clear: only natural-born citizens can become president. Schwarzenegger, born July 30, 1947, in Thal, Austria, arrived in the U.S. at 21 and became a naturalized citizen in 1983. That journey, while a classic American success story, leaves him ineligible for the nation’s highest office. He’s not bitter about it, though. “The only thing that I can’t do, which is run for president, I’m not going to complain about that,” he told the BBC on October 24, 2023. Still, he mused about immigration reform—“We need some, absolutely, to change that”—while insisting any push wouldn’t be just for his own sake.

“I Could Win That Election”

Schwarzenegger’s confidence isn’t hypothetical; it’s palpable. In a June 2023 sit-down with Chris Wallace on Max and CNN’s Who’s Talking?, he didn’t hesitate when asked if he’d run if eligible. “Well, yes, of course,” he said, pointing to the fractured political landscape as his opening. “I think the field is open right now. Who is there? There is really not a person that can bring everyone together.” He doubled down with The Seattle Times that same month: “It’s a no-brainer. I see so clearly how I could win that election.” His reasoning? A track record of governing California—a state as diverse and unwieldy as the nation itself—from 2003 to 2011, where he balanced Republican roots with bipartisan appeal.

He envisions a presidency that unites rather than divides, a rarity in today’s polarized climate. “I mean, think about it right now,” he told Wallace, referencing the 2016 election and beyond. “The field was wide open then, and it’s open now.” For Schwarzenegger, his outsider status—both as an immigrant and a Hollywood transplant turned politician—could be the key to cutting through partisan noise.

A Surprising Twist: Advocating for Youth

While pitching himself as a hypothetical candidate, Schwarzenegger also threw a curveball: he’s not thrilled with the 2024 lineup. Specifically, he’s tired of seeing candidates in their late 70s and early 80s—think Joe Biden (82) and Donald Trump (78)—dominate the stage. “I just hope that America finds some really young blood,” he told the BBC. “It is a little bit odd that we are having a battle between people in their late 70s and early 80s, rather than people in the 40s and 50s or maybe even younger.” It’s a striking stance from a man who’d be 77 himself if he could run, suggesting he’s less focused on personal power than on what he sees as the country’s future.

From Terminator to Trailblazer?

Schwarzenegger’s musings aren’t just idle chatter—they’ve sparked real conversation. An opinion piece in VC Star on January 4, 2024, urged him to somehow “run to win,” praising his ideas on education, health, and infrastructure. Cigar Aficionado even floated a constitutional amendment in November 2023 to let him take a shot, calling him a “unifying figure.” It’s a long shot—amending the Constitution is a Herculean task—but it shows how his star power still captivates.

His tenure as California’s governor gives his aspirations some heft. He tackled budget crises, pushed environmental reforms, and won re-election in 2006 by a landslide, proving he could handle a big stage. Yet, his ineligibility keeps it all theoretical, a what-if that lingers in the public imagination.

Why It Resonates

Schwarzenegger’s presidential talk hits a nerve because it’s both personal and universal. He’s an immigrant who climbed from rural Austria to global fame, embodying the American Dream—yet that dream stops short of the White House. His call for younger leaders taps into a broader unease about aging politicians, echoed in polls showing voters craving fresh faces. And his belief in bridging divides feels like a throwback to a less tribal era, or perhaps a hopeful glimpse forward.

As of March 19, 2025, Schwarzenegger remains a political spectator, not a player. But his voice—gravelly, accented, and unwavering—keeps the idea alive: what if the Terminator could trade the screen for the Situation Room? For now, it’s a script that can’t be greenlit, but one he’s clearly ready to star in.