08/30/2026
In the aftermath of the January 2021 Capitol attack, Arnold Schwarzenegger urged Americans to reject division and put democracy ahead of party politics. 🇺🇸
Schwarzenegger, a Republican who served as governor of California, sharply criticized Donald Trump and predicted that he would eventually become “as irrelevant as an old tweet.”
The actor and former governor also reflected on growing up in Austria after World War II, using his family history to warn about what can happen when political falsehoods, resentment, and intolerance become normalized.
He condemned efforts to overturn the 2020 election and described Trump as a “failed leader,” while calling on Americans across the political spectrum to defend democratic institutions.
Although his comments were highly critical of Trump, Schwarzenegger framed the larger issue as one of national responsibility rather than party loyalty.
His message was simple: political leaders come and go, but democratic institutions depend on citizens choosing to protect them.