A recent column by David Von Drehle, the deputy opinion editor at The Washington Post, expresses his endorsement for Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson as a presidential candidate in 2024. Von Drehle argues that Johnson stands out as the most suitable nominee for the presidency.
“For four years, I have been saying to anyone who will listen — not many people, I must admit — that America has a sure and happy pathway out of the doom loop of Biden vs. Trump, Trump vs. Biden, seemingly for the rest of eternity,” Von Drehle writes.
“Johnson is that pathway.
“A man bigger than the Super Bowl is exactly what we need to break the cycle of despair.”
However, Von Drehle insists that he’s serious about his presidential pick.
“Many people I’ve tried this on think I am joking, because Dwayne Johnson is a movie star, among other things — and movie stars can’t be elected. Except by perhaps the largest electoral college margin since George Washington. (Looking at you, Ronald Reagan, who in 1984 won all the states but one.),” he explains.
Von Drehle presented Johnson as a remedy for voters who “detest Trump” and “many Democrats” who “disdain their incumbent, Joe Biden.” The left-leaning journalist emphasized, “The solution is a unity campaign starring the gentle giant.”
“I’m not joking,” reiterated the Washington Post columnist. “Admittedly, Johnson’s biography is not typical of presidential hopefuls, but in a nation sick of political dysfunction, that might be a feature, not a bug.”
He observed that, as a candidate, Johnson aligns well with the “post-Trump era,” where personal celebrity and the ability to command attention hold more significance than a traditional résumé or party endorsement.
Engaging in a direct comparison of the “Fast and Furious” star with both former and current presidents, he continued:
“Johnson is all the things Trump pretends to be: physically impressive, personally tough, widely liked.
“And unlike Biden, he has accomplished things other than running for office.”
Von Drehle further expressed admiration, lauding The Rock as “handsome” and possessing a physique akin to a “cartoon superhero.” He also commended his strong work ethic and innate charisma.
“His jump to Hollywood was as natural as organic shampoo; there, he quickly picked up where Arnold Schwarzenegger left off, mixing action films — including the insanely popular ‘Fast and Furious’ franchise — with gentler roles, such as the ‘Jumanji’ sequels and Disney’s ‘Moana,’” he writes.
“He also co-founded an array of successful businesses: ZOA energy supplements for the fitness market; an XFL football franchise; a popular tequila brand; a film-production company; and so on.
“Forbes estimated his income was $270 million in 2022 — well on his way to becoming the self-made billionaire Trump pretends to be.”
While Von Drehle asserted his lack of knowledge about The Rock’s specific political views, mentioning only his registration as an independent, he confidently affirmed that The Rock possesses sound political instincts and experience.
“His charitable work with at-risk youth puts him in touch with issues that animate many Democrats, as does his personal story of second and third chances after his youthful brushes with the law,” he writes.
“On the other hand, when he discusses the keys to his own success — hard work, discipline, risk-taking — he speaks the language of many traditional Republicans.”
Von Drehle contends that The Rock’s absence of national security expertise can be compensated by his unparalleled global popularity. He pointed to Johnson’s films, which generated $1.3 billion in China, suggesting that this could enhance U.S.-China relations. Concluding his endorsement of Johnson, Von Drehle highlighted the actor’s amiable personality.
“What I do know is that Johnson is a boss who asks at business meetings, ‘How do we deliver joy?’ Who says, ‘It’s nice to be important, but it’s more important to be nice,’ he writes.
“A man who says he can’t run for president this year because he wants to be a good father… American politics is sleepwalking toward disaster.
“Dwayne Johnson is the man to wake us up.”
