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February 2012
The Rock tells Moviefone he could “one day, and that day will come” impact the world through politics: “The great news is that I am American. Therefore, I can become president.” The seeds have been planted.
June 2016
Zoom ahead four years. We’re in the heart of the 2016 presidential race, and The Rock is starting to cook a little (can you smell that?). He tells British GQ: “I can’t deny the thought of being president is alluring. It would be an opportunity to make a real impact on people’s lives on a global scale.” The Rock hedges his statement a bit, saying there are still plenty of other things he wants to accomplish before potentially making a run for office (like this Beast Mode workout, for one).
November 2016
As the conversation around The Rock 2020 becomes more explicit, he begins speaking more intentionally about his thinking. “Of course I world consider running,” Johnson tells Yahoo Movies, “I’m very patriotic about our country. If I felt like I could become a real impactful leader and surround myself with good people, I’d consider it.”
After Trump takes the White House, Johnson tells Vanity Fair that being president “would be a great opportunity to help people. This past election shows that anything can happen.”
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May 2017
In a GQ cover story, The Rock wraps both of his massive arms around the growing groundswell nearing his imaginary campaign. He goes all-in on a political-themed photo shoot and speaks openly about his thought process: “I think it’s a real possibility.” He goes on to talk about leadership and poise in the position, and the profile itself analyzes Johnson’s chances as directly as anything has yet.
A little more than a week later, on The Tonight Show, The Rock tells Jimmy Fallon: “I think a lot of people want to see a better leadership today. More poise, less noise. I think over the years I’ve become a guy a lot of the people relate to—get up early in the morning, go to work, spend time with the troops, take care of my family—that kind of thing really resonates with people.” He caps his statement by saying, “Three and a half years is a long way away, so we’ll see.”
Then, on Saturday Night Live, Johnson jokes in his monologue that he's making his 2020 run official with Tom Hanks as his running mate. “I, of course, would get the minority vote,” Johnson said. “Because everyone just assumes that I’m well, whatever they are.”
July 2017
Support grew so much that an unaffiliated “Run the Rock 2020” campaign committee appears on Johnson’s behalf. The committee is filed with the Federal Election Commission to make Johnson eligible to run in 2020. The Rock isn’t connected with the movement, but the broader message is clear: the People want the People’s Champ.
The Rock Meets a 10-Year-Old Hero:
September 2017
Let the endorsements begin! Fellow WWE superstar Chris Jericho goes on the Rich Eisen Show to give his take on The Rock’s growing campaign potential. “I have no doubt it’s going to happen,” Jericho says. “I think we’re in the era of celebrity Presidents. I think Rock knows how to work a camera better that Trump does, and has much more charisma and is much more likable. I honestly think The Rock will run for President. I really do.”
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The Rock himself continues to hedge, stressing that right now he feels America needs strong leadership in Washington from its current leaders. It might sound like he’s straddling the fence, but hey, that’s politics.