Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson revealed in a profile published Wednesday that he's been taking "under the radar" meetings with political figures across the spectrum, saying he needs to "go to work and learn" before thinking about entering the political arena.
The former professional wrestler has become one of the world's most successful movie actors, starring in smash hits like the Fast and the Furious series and Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle.
Discussing his long-rumored political plans with Rolling Stone, Johnson said he was flattered by calls for him to seek the presidency but cautioned it was a job that "requires years and years of experience." He's said in the past he wouldn't rule it out.
"People are very excited, and it's so flattering that they're excited," Johnson said. "I think it's also a function of being very unsatisfied with our current president. But this is a skill set that requires years and years of experience. On a local level, on a state level and then on a national level. I have the utmost respect for our country and that position, and I'm not delusioned in any way to think, 'Oh, absolutely, if Trump can do it, I can do it, and I'll see you in 20-whatever, get ready.' Not at all."
Johnson said President Donald Trump's election may have shown people that anyone could run for the White House but that didn't mean it was necessarily a good idea. Like Johnson if he were to run, Trump had held no prior office before seeking the presidency.
"I think in a lot of people's minds, what Trump has proved is that anybody can run for president," Johnson said. "And in a lot of people's minds, what he's also proved is that not everybody should run for president. What I'm sensing now is that we have to pivot back to people who have a deep-rooted knowledge of American history and politics and experience in policy and how laws get made. I think that pivot has to happen."
To that end, he said he was talking with different political people "under the radar."
"Republicans, Democrats, independents, mayors, strategists, you name it. Just soaking in and listening. Trying to learn as much as I possibly can. I entertain the thought, and thank you, I'm so flattered by it. But I feel like the best thing I can do now is, give me years. Let me go to work and learn," he said.
Johnson spoke at the Republican National Convention in 2000 but now says he is an independent. He told Rolling Stone he voted for Barack Obama in 2008 and 2012 but didn't vote for anyone in 2016.
"The next elections, in 2020, I think I'll be a little bit more vocal in who I support," he said.