Arnold Schwarzenegger Names Surprising Senator As Potential 2024 Candidate

Former California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger was asked on Sunday if there was any candidate in the 2024 presidential field that he feels could “bring the type of leadership that’s needed right now.”

Surprisingly, the actor-turned-politician said that he would like to see Senator Joe Manchin of West Virginia make a bid for the White House.

WATCH: Fmr. Gov. @Schwarzenegger (R-Calif.) says Sen. Manchin (https://t.co/A9qEVDi7UG.) “stands out” as a potential contender in the 2024 race.

“He comes from an energy state, but he's a Democrat. So he knows the challenges. … I think [he’s] really a great force.” pic.twitter.com/qLdCuh7zUr

— Meet the Press (@MeetThePress) October 29, 2023

Even though Schwarzenegger said that there is not enough room for other candidates besides former President Trump or President Biden to have a chance in the presidential race, he thinks Manchin will stand out.

From The Hill:

When asked who he thinks would stand out in the race, Schwarzenegger called out Manchin, the West Virginia Democrat who has floated a potential bid for the presidency in the past.

“You know, I think, like, Joe Manchin is one of them that I think stands out because he is kind of like a center guy. He comes from an energy state, but he’s a Democrat. So he knows the challenges and all that. But he’s one of the guys that I think is really a great force,” he said.

He also said that there are others that could stand a chance, but declined to offer up more examples.

“But there’s many others. In general, without endorsing anybody, I think we have to give people a chance to emerge,” Schwarzenegger said. “The political system is set up in such a way right now that Trump is kind of like taking the air out of everything, you know, and Biden is doing it on the other side. And so it kind of like comes down to both of them running really for president.”

Even though he can’t legally run for president because he was born in Austria where he lived until he was 19, Schwarzenegger said that he would “love” to run for president if he could.

"Trump and Biden suck all the oxygen out of the room"@Schwarzenegger tells @krishgm why he'd be a good US president, and that there's "no one with a big name" yet that could stand against Biden or Trump, in today's Ways to Change the World podcast.https://t.co/u7fyUi6ljX pic.twitter.com/MbWWEGHbEg

— Channel 4 News (@Channel4News) October 28, 2023

Per BBC:

“I feel like I would make a great president,” he says without displaying a shred of self-doubt, before continuing: “But I feel that, at the same time, everything I’ve accomplished was because of America.

“America gave me so many opportunities and the American people were so embracive, and they just received me with open arms. There was no one there that stopped me from my success.

“So the only thing that I can’t do, which is run for president, I’m not going to complain about that.”

Even though he has been out of office since 2011, Schwarzenegger said he still feels at home in the Republican Party.

WATCH: Fmr. Gov. @Schwarzenegger (R-Calif.) says he “absolutely” still feels at home in the Republican Party.

“When I go up to Capitol Hill, and I meet with my Republican colleagues, I have a great time. … I don't look at them as kind of crazies like some people do.” pic.twitter.com/5ZDHEAlwoj

— Meet the Press (@MeetThePress) October 29, 2023