The former Republican Governor of California, who notably declined to support Donald Trump in 2016, announced his vote for Kamala Harris and Tim Walz.

In this unexpected endorsement, Schwarzenegger expressed his disdain for politics, saying, “I don’t really do endorsements. I’m not shy about sharing my views, but I hate politics and don’t trust most politicians.” However, the 77-year-old actor explained that the country needs to “move forward,” adding, “the only way to do that is with Harris and Walz.”

Alongside his support for Harris, Schwarzenegger issued a harsh critique of Trump, forecasting the damage he believes Trump would inflict if re-elected. “We need to close the door on this chapter of American history, and I know that former President Trump won’t do that,” he stated. “He will divide, he will insult, he will find new ways to be more un-American than he already has been, and we, the people, will get nothing but more anger.”

Schwarzenegger’s lengthy statement continued with a blunt criticism of both political parties. “Let me be honest with you: I don’t like either party right now. My Republicans have forgotten the beauty of the free market, driven up deficits, and rejected election results,” he wrote. “Democrats aren’t any better at dealing with deficits, and I worry about their local policies hurting our cities with increased crime.” He added that his growing disdain for politics makes him want to “tune out,” noting that “if you are a normal person who isn’t addicted to this crap, you probably understand.”

Addressing the divisive rhetoric at Trump’s recent rally, where comedian Tony Hinchcliffe described Puerto Rico as “an island of garbage,” Schwarzenegger said, “To someone like me who talks to people from all over the world and still knows America is the shining city on a hill, calling America a trash can for the world is so unpatriotic, it makes me furious.” He emphasized, “I will always be an American before I am a Republican.” He concluded, “That’s why, this week, I am voting for Kamala Harris and Tim Walz.”

Schwarzenegger’s statement included pointed remarks about Trump, describing him as a “candidate who will send his followers to storm the Capitol while he watches with a Diet Coke.” This is not Schwarzenegger’s first public condemnation of Trump; in 2021, he branded Trump the “worst president ever” after the January 6 Capitol attack. The Austrian-born actor also likened the MAGA riot to “America’s Day of Broken Glass,” a comparison to Kristallnacht, the Nazi attack on Jewish communities that foreshadowed the Holocaust.

Calling for accountability from Trump’s political supporters, Schwarzenegger urged unity behind the incoming administration. Although Schwarzenegger has spoken previously about his troubled childhood with a father who joined the Nazi party around 1938, he rarely discusses its deep impact. He drew a stark comparison between the propaganda in 1930s Austria and today’s political climate, stating, “President Trump sought to overturn the results of an election and of a fair election. He sought a coup by misleading people with lies. My father and our neighbors were misled also with lies. I know where such lies lead.”

Schwarzenegger, who served as California’s 38th governor from 2003 to 2011, rarely endorses candidates. His last endorsement was for Ohio Governor John Kasich as the Republican presidential nominee in 2020, commending Kasich for his “compassionate conservatism” reminiscent of former President George W. Bush’s style.

This recent endorsement of Harris and Walz echoes Schwarzenegger’s position in 2016, when he publicly rejected Trump’s bid for the White House. Back then, he joined a chorus of Republicans denouncing Trump and announced he would not support the GOP nominee. Schwarzenegger revealed that 2016 would mark his first time abstaining from voting for the Republican candidate since he became a U.S. citizen in 1983. He continued his opposition to Trump in 2020, admitting his doubts about voting for Trump in the race against Joe Biden.

Today’s endorsement underscores Schwarzenegger’s consistent stance, as he confirmed his choice to vote blue in 2024.