Arnold Schwarzenegger says he could win 2024 US presidency

Arnie for President

One very bizarre (and constitutionally impossible) choice is none other than the Austrian Oak himself, Arnold Schwarzenegger.

The former Governor of California said he'd "absolutely" be up for taking over the White House if he was allowed to run.

Speaking on an episode of CNN's 'Who's Talking?', the 75-year-old said, "put me in because it’s, look – it’s a no brainer. I see so clearly how I could win that election.

"I think the field was wide open in 2016. And I think the field is open right now. I mean, think about it right now. Who is there? There is really not a person that can bring everyone together.

"Who is here today that people say okay, he’s not too old or he’s not too this or too that, or is that because it’s now a question about who do you vote against than who do you vote for?"

“I mean, it’s like me and California,” he continued. “And when that was, you know, running for governor, it was clear that people are looking for some new answer, not a right wing or left wing, but someone that can bring the nation together and doesn’t see the other party as the enemy.

"There’s just so many things that need to be done. And can be done. And what makes it so wonderful is because it’s doable. It’s all doable, or at least it’s just people coming together and say yes, we can do it.”

The 'Amend for Arnold' campaign

Unfortunately for Arnie, the Constitution says that the President has to be a natural born US citizen, ruling out the Austrian-born actor, who became a naturalised American in 1983.

A registered Republican, the former bodybuilder served as Governor of California from 2003 to 2011, making him the second foreign-born governor after Irish-born John G. Downey in 1862.

In 2004, the "Amend for Arnold" campaign was launched, promoting the Equal Opportunity to Govern Amendment proposal, which would see the natural-born citizen rule be scrapped for the US presidency, giving Schwarzenegger a clear run at the candidacy. No further action was taken once the proposal reached congress.

It seems unlikely at this point that the amendment would once again make it to the courts, but we've learned to not rule anything out.

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