---
title: "Republican Schwarzenegger backs Democrat Harris for US president"
description: "LOS ANGELES, Oct 30 (Reuters) - Action movie star and former Republican California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger threw his support on Wednesday behind Democratic candidate Kamala Harris for US president, saying \"I will always be an American before I am a Republican.\""
type: "NewsArticle"
publisher: "Daily Maverick"
site: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za"
section: "US Elections"
author: "Reuters"
author_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/author/reuters/"
canonical_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2024-10-31-republican-schwarzenegger-backs-democrat-harris-for-us-president/"
published: "2024-10-31T05:00:11"
updated: "2024-10-31T05:09:52"
lang: "en-ZA"
word_count: 246
---

# Republican Schwarzenegger backs Democrat Harris for US president

> LOS ANGELES, Oct 30 (Reuters) - Action movie star and former Republican California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger threw his support on Wednesday behind Democratic candidate Kamala Harris for US president, saying "I will always be an American before I am a Republican."

By Reuters · Published 31 October 2024, 07:00 SAST · Updated 31 October 2024, 07:09 SAST

## Key points
- In a plot twist worthy of a Hollywood blockbuster, Arnold Schwarzenegger trades in his Republican badge for a Kamala Harris endorsement, declaring that rejecting election results is as un-American as a T-800 on a mission to terminate democracy.
- Arnold Schwarzenegger criticizes Republicans for refusing to acknowledge Trump's 2020 election loss and his derogatory comments about America.
- The former governor expresses disdain for both political parties, citing their failure to address budget deficits and rising crime.
- Schwarzenegger emphasizes his American identity over party loyalty, declaring his support for Kamala Harris and Tim Walz.
- The actor's remarks come in response to Trump's "garbage can" analogy regarding immigration and border policies.

## Content

The "Terminator" star said he was offended by Republicans who refused to concede that Donald Trump lost the 2020 election and the Republican nominee's remark that America was "like a garbage can for the rest of the world."

As governor, Schwarzenegger said, he learned to "love policy and hate politics" and added "I hate politics more than ever."

He also said "I don't like either party right now," arguing that neither would tackle US budget deficits, and that some Democrats' policies were leading to increased crime.

"I want to tune out," Schwarzenegger wrote. "But I can't."

"Because rejecting the results of an election is as un-American as it gets." Calling America "a trash can for the world is so unpatriotic, it makes me furious," he added.

"And I will always be an American before I am a Republican," Schwarzenegger said. "That's why, this week, I am voting for Kamala Harris and Tim Walz."

Trump made the "garbage can" comment when criticizing the Biden/Harris administration's handling of the US-Mexico border, saying enforcement was so lax that other countries could "dump people they don't want" in the United States.

Schwarzenegger immigrated to the US from Austria and built a successful body building career before starring in 1980s movie mega-hits such as "Conan the Barbarian," "The Terminator" and "Predator." He served as governor of California from 2003 to 2011.

The actor is one of several [Hollywood stars who have endorsed Harris.](https://www.reutersconnect.com/all?search=all%3AL1N3LJ10L&linkedFromStory=true)

(Reporting by Lisa Richwine; Editing by Sandra Maler)