KEY POINTS

  • Mulvaney believes The Rock has a chance at beating Trump
  • Johnson said he is politically independent
  • The Rock has discussed the idea of running for president in 2024 in a Vanity Fair interview in 2021

Former acting White House chief of staff Mick Mulvaney thinks Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, a former WWE superstar turned Hollywood actor, could defeat Donald Trump in the 2024 presidential elections.

Speaking with Politico’s Tim Sutton, Mulvaney said he believes only three people could pose a challenge against former President Trump in the 2024 GOP primary -- Gov. Ron DeSantis, R-FL; Sen. Tim Scott, R-SC; and The Rock.

"It's a short list," Mulvaney said, noting "Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson could give him a run for his money."

Trump's former White House chief of staff later added another person to the list: Trump himself. Mulvaney, who resigned from his post as special envoy to Northern Ireland shortly after the devastating riot at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, said the 45th U.S. president can become his own worst enemy during campaign season.

Speculation about Johnson considering a run for the White House first surfaced in September 2020, when the former WWE superstar took to Twitter to announce that he is politically independent, adding that he had voted for candidates from both parties. In the same tweet, he endorsed Joe Biden and Kamala Harris for president and vice president, respectively, sparking speculations of a possible role in politics in the future. He has also made it clear that he was not a fan of Trump.

"Where is our compassionate leader who's going to step up to our country who's down on its knees, and extend a hand and say, 'You stand up, stand up with me because I got you,'" he said in reference to Trump.

Rumors about a possible political run made the rounds again after his sitcom, “Young Rock,” debuted in February 2021. In the show, Johnson played a character who was running for president in 2032.

The Rock has also discussed the idea of running for president in 2024 in an interview for Vanity Fair’s November 2021 issue. Johnson said he was humbled by the results of a poll that showed almost half of Americans voting in favor of him running for president. However, the actor argued that he “does not know a damn thing about being a politician” and said he does not believe he will make a good politician.

In a separate tweet, Johnson, however, said that it would be an "honor to serve the people" if he would be chosen to lead the country.

Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, the world's top-paid actor, urged his 196 million Instagram followers to wear masks and avoid "politicizing" the pandemic after revealing that he, his wife and two young daughters had picked up Covid-19
Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, the world's top-paid actor, urged his 196 million Instagram followers to wear masks and avoid "politicizing" the pandemic after revealing that he, his wife and two young daughters had picked up Covid-19 AFP / Jean-Baptiste LACROIX
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