The presidential line of succession officially contains 20 successors if the President of the Unites States were to be incapacitated. I think its time to add another spot to that list. No matter who the President is, the 21st in line should always be Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson. President The Rock should be the automatic designated survivor if all 20 in the line were to fall.
However, according to an interview with GQ magazine (June 2017), The Rock has been taking questions about a presidential run more seriously than before:
“A year ago, it started coming up more and more,” Johnson said about reporters asking him if he eventually would run. “There was a real sense of earnestness, which made me go home and think, ‘Let me really rethink my answer and make sure I am giving an answer that is truthful and also respectful.’ I didn’t want to be flippant.”
Apparently “The Great One” looks at a run for the White House as a real possibility. Is The Rock prepared to lay the smack down on world leaders from the highest office in the land? Is the eyebrow-raising superstar poised to become the most electrifying man in politics?
Boy, do I hope so. Let’s take a look at what a Dwayne Johnson presidency would look like.
Entertaining and Positive
No matter what, a Dwayne Johnson presidency exudes fun. From choosing his cabinet to his State of the Union speeches, the entertainment value leaps off the chart – having wrestling or Hollywood stars working with him, public speeches opening and closing with “Do you smell what The Rock is cooking?”, debates in which Dwayne asks his opponent their name and, before they can answer, spouts “It doesn’t matter what your name is”.
Much in the way that wrestling turned into sports entertainment, politics as we know it has shifted to Beltway entertainment. The White House goes Hollywood. More importantly, coverage of the President will rival coverage of Trump but in a much more positive way. Instead of arrogant tweets that bad mouth the other side, we’d get jokes, shout outs, and genuine humility. Imagine wall-to-wall coverage of the President drawing viewers for positive reasons.
Hard-Working and Efficient
Dwayne Johnson possesses a legendary work ethic. His ability to balance projects and still find time for fans and charity indicate an ability to effectively do the job of President. Current President Trump remarked that the job would be easier:
“I loved my previous life. I had so many things going,” Trump said. “This is more work than in my previous life. I thought it would be easier.” (Reuters)
I’m guessing The Rock would acquiesce to Presidential workload seamlessly.
The Rock gets things done. Eighteen upcoming projects attest to that. President Johnson would juggle domestic policy, foreign policy, and the media the way he juggles movies, TV, and periodic wrestling appearances: like a damn champ. Bottom line, a Johnson presidency could handle broad policy issues as well as the day-to-day challenges the Commander in Chief encounters.
Fan Friendly
Agree with his policy or not, Johnson believes in inclusiveness:
“I believe in our national security to the core, but I don’t believe in a ‘ban’ that bans immigrants. I believe in inclusion. Our country was built on that, and it continues to be made strong by that,” Johnson said. (GQ, June 17 Edition)
I see an administration where everyone is treated fairly regardless of ethnicity, sex, sexual preference, or age. The Rock has a strong attachment to his multi-ethnic family and that should translate to acceptance of all peoples.
We know from Twitter that The Rock is all about the fans. He chats with them, supports them, and reaches out when he can. His wrestling moniker of “The People’s Champ” should translate effectively to “The People’s President”. Fans and constituents rejoice.
Is is Possible?
Nine months ago, the answer to whether a Dwayne Johnson presidency was a possibility would’ve been a resounding “NO!” But that was a long, long time ago. That was pre-Trump America. That was before a man with a 30% positive rating from the electorate could win you the presidential election. The phrase “stranger things have happened” is very common. Following the current administration, it will be a staple of our vocabulary.
Other former wrestlers have become congressmen and mayors. Some owned businesses, and others received acclaim in the entertainment industry. Is there anyone more likely to outshine all of his predecessors in the political arena than the man who outshone them all in Hollywood? No. With The Rock, almost anything is possible.