“Black Adam” star Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson is putting his political aspirations on hold for the sake of his young family.
The former WWE star told “CBS Sunday Morning” that a White House run is “off the table” while his daughters with second wife Lauren Hashian, Jasmin, 6, and Tiana, 4, are still young children.
“It is off the table. I’ll say this because it requires the B-side to this: I love our country and everyone in it. I also love being a daddy. And that’s the most important thing to me, being a daddy,” he said. “Number one. Especially during this time, this critical time in my daughters’ lives.”
Johnson explained that a presidential bid would take him away from his children, just like his thriving career impacted his presence in his 21-year-old daughter Simone’s life when she was growing up.
“I know what it was like to be on the road and be so busy that I was absent for a lot of years in my first daughter’s [life],” he remarked. “Growing up in this critical age at this critical time in her life and that’s what the presidency would do.”
Johnson said that while being “CEO” of the country “sounds great,” his priority is his children.
“The number one thing I want to be is daddy,” he concluded. “That’s it.”
The “Jungle Cruise” star hinted that he aspirations for the White House in 2016, after an article was written about why he should run for president. “Maybe one day. Surely the White House has a spot for my pick up truck,” he joked at the time.
Johnson stoked speculation in a series of interviews in the following years. He told GQ that he hadn’t “ruled politics out” that June.
“I’m not being coy when I say that, but at the moment I am not sure. I can’t deny that the thought of being governor, the thought of being president, is alluring,” the “San Andreas 2” actor said to the magazine. “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.”
Days after Donald Trump was elected president in 2016, “The Rock” parroted that he “wouldn’t rule out” a 2020 bid. “It would be a great opportunity to help people, so it’s possible. This past election shows that anything can happen,” he told Vanity Fair.
Johnson joked that “Forrest Gump” star Tom Hanks was his running mate when he hosted the 2017 season finale of “Saturday Night Live,” and admitted to Ellen DeGeneres that he was “seriously considering it” later that year.
“If he were to put himself in that position, he would get my support whole-heartedly,” his “Jumanji” co-star Kevin Hart told the talk show host.
Johnson was still mulling the idea over in 2021, when a poll found that 46% of Americans would support his potential presidential run.
He told People that it was a “humbling honor,” but admitted he wasn’t a politician, and never had political aspirations.
“I’m not sure I even have the patience or resignation to deal with the B.S. that comes with politics and politicians,” he continued. “But, 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.”