Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson says he is stepping away from Hollywood’s habit of putting politics at the center of public life, saying he has grown tired of the anger, personal attacks and “bulls—” that often come with political debate.
In a new interview with Esquire for the magazine’s Summer Issue cover story, the 54-year-old actor and former professional wrestler explained why he has decided to keep his political opinions private.
“What I have learned through experience is that I need to keep — need, not want — the main thing the main thing,” Johnson told the magazine. “And the main thing for me, the thing that in the morning I swing my legs out of bed and I run towards, is creating. It’s art. It’s storytelling. I’ve learned I’m going to keep my politics to myself.”
Johnson said he is not opposed to honest conversations or admitting when he is wrong. But he suggested that the current political climate has become too combative and exhausting.
“There are moments when, ‘Hey, there’s nothing we can’t talk about. If I’m wrong, I’ll tell you I’m wrong. Or if I feel like I got a leg up and this is the right way to go, I’ll share it with you,’” he said.
Still, Johnson made clear that politics is not where he wants to spend his energy.
“Politics is omnipresent and it’s forever,” he added. “I don’t like it. I hate it at times. I hate the slinging. I hate all the bulls— that comes with it.”
The topic came up after Johnson was asked about Bruce Springsteen’s recent criticism of President Donald Trump during his “Land of Hope and Dreams Tour.” Since the tour began in March, Springsteen has used some of his concerts to speak out against Trump.
Johnson said his first reaction was not to pick a side, but to wonder why the two men were not speaking directly.
“Because when I hear you talk about Springsteen, who I love, and this idea that he’s speaking directly to Trump in his concerts, my first thought as you were telling me that, in my head, I went, ‘Oh, then why don’t they talk? They should sit down and talk,’” Johnson said. “I don’t know where that goes, but I do know that’s an important step.”
Johnson, who identifies as an Independent, made his first public presidential endorsement in 2020, backing former President Joe Biden over Trump. But he has since said he regrets the division that followed.
During an April 2024 interview with “Fox & Friends” host Will Cain, Johnson said he would not endorse anyone in the 2024 presidential race.
“The endorsement that I made years ago with Biden was what I thought was the best decision for me at that time,” he said. “Am I going to do that again this year? That answer’s no. I’m not going to do that.”
Johnson said the reaction to his endorsement stayed with him.
“What I realized that what that caused back then was something that tears me up in my guts back then and now, which is division,” he said. “And that got me.”
He added that his goal is to bring people together, not deepen political divides.
“I realize now going into this election, I’m not going to do that,” Johnson continued. “I wouldn’t do that because my goal is to bring our country together. I believe in that, in my DNA. So in the spirit of that, there’s going to be no endorsement.”
Johnson said his political views now belong between him and the ballot box.
“Not that I’m afraid of it at all, but it’s just I realize that this level of influence — I’m gonna keep my politics to myself,” he said.
Johnson also previously condemned the July 2024 assassination attempt against Trump, saying there was “no room” for political violence. Speaking at The Value Conference in September 2024, he said that regardless of how people feel about Trump, the attempt on his life was unacceptable.
He also recalled that Trump had attended some of his wrestling matches at Madison Square Garden years earlier.
“He used to come watch me wrestle all the time at Madison Square Garden,” Johnson said. “It was great. First time I saw him, he said, ‘Let me see the eyebrows.’”
In his interview with Cain, Johnson also criticized what he described as cancel culture and said he has learned to value honesty over trying to please everyone.
“You either succumb and be what you think other people want you to be, or you go, ‘No, that’s not who I am. I’m going to be myself and I’m going to be real,’” he said. “If you ask me something, a real answer is important, and the truthful answer is important, and that may get people upset and may p— people off. And that’s okay.”
