As the US presidential election draws closer, the political landscape continues to heat up, with both campaigns intensifying their efforts in battleground states. Adding to the mix of high-profile endorsements, former California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has thrown his support behind Democratic candidate Kamala Harris, while legendary astronaut Buzz Aldrin has endorsed former President Donald Trump.
Schwarzenegger, known for his role in the ‘Terminator’ franchise, stated that he was putting country before politics, making this only his second-ever presidential endorsement. In 2016, he endorsed former Ohio Gov. John Kasich in the Republican presidential primaries.
In a lengthy post on X (formerly Twitter), Schwarzenegger expressed his dissatisfaction with both parties, stating, “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. Democrats aren’t any better at dealing with deficits, and I worry about their local policies hurting our cities with increased crime.”
He went on to criticize politicians for failing to pass comprehensive immigration reform and directed his ire towards former President Trump, calling for the country to “turn the page” on the 45th president. He accused Trump of disrespecting votes unless they were cast for him and of inciting the January 6th Capitol riot.
Schwarzenegger continued, “Rejecting the results of an election is as un-American as it gets. A candidate who has shown no ability to work to pass any policy besides a tax cut that helped his donors and other rich people like me but helped no one else…., a candidate who thinks Americans who disagree with him are the bigger enemies than China, Russia, or North Korea – that won’t solve our problems.” He concluded, “It will just be four more years of bulls— with no results that makes us angrier and angrier, more divided, and more hateful.”
Meanwhile, Buzz Aldrin, the second person to walk on the moon, threw his weight behind Trump, praising the former president’s efforts to elevate space exploration and highlight the importance of the US Space Force. He stated that Trump’s administration had “reignited national efforts to get back to the Moon and push on to Mars.”
Aldrin highlighted the reinstatement of the National Space Council under the Trump administration, emphasizing that “our Nation’s defense was enhanced with the creation of the U.S. Space Force – increasingly important as space becomes a contested domain.” He also expressed enthusiasm for the advancements in the private sector space economy led by figures like Elon Musk.
Aldrin concluded by saying that Trump’s leadership qualities make him the best candidate to face “serious and difficult challenges both at home and abroad.” He emphasized that the presidency requires “clarity in judgment, decisiveness, and calm under pressure.” He stated, “For me, for the future of our country, to meet enormous challenges, and for the proven policy accomplishments above, I believe we are best served by voting for former President Trump. I wholeheartedly endorse him for President of the United States. Godspeed President Trump, and God Bless the United States of America.”
Trump expressed his appreciation for Aldrin’s endorsement at a rally in North Carolina, highlighting the astronaut’s reputation and stating, “Buzz Aldrin, very respected, the great astronaut and highly respected. But I thought it was an unusual.” He then went on to note that outlets like the Washington Post and Los Angeles Times have declined to endorse a candidate, a move he interpreted as a rejection of Vice President Harris.
Trump continued, “But Buzz Aldrin is very interesting because a great astronaut… He’s a very sound man and great, looks fantastic. ‘What he said is ‘I’ve never endorsed anybody in my life before… This is the first time I’ve ever made an endorsement… I’m endorsing Donald J. Trump.’ Isn’t that nice? So thank you, Buzz Aldrin. And I like him, too. I’ve always admired him.”
With the election just days away, these endorsements are likely to further intensify the political climate and influence voters in battleground states.
