Arnold Schwarzenegger arrived in America in 1968. Despite coming to the States to pursue his bodybuilding and Hollywood dreams, Arnie found himself drawn to American politics from the get-go. The bodybuilding legend felt inspired by Ronald Regan’s speech on national television and learned more about politics. After learning more about the Democrats and Republicans, Schwarzenegger felt more akin to the Republican approach.

However, in the late 1970s, Schwarzenegger started dating Maria Shriver. Shriver’s family, the Kennedys, were American political royalty. She was the daughter of Sargent Shriver and Eunice Kennedy Shriver. Furthermore, the Kennedys were one of the flagbearers of the Democratic party. Despite this apparent conflict of interest, Schwarzenegger and Shriver were married for 25 years. Recently, podcast host Alastair Campbell asked the 76-year-old why he didn’t become a Democrat.

Arnold Schwarzenegger didn’t abandon his political philosophy

While speaking with the Austrian Oak during The Rest Is Politics podcast, host Alastair Campbell asked a question. “You married into the most famous Democrat political clan in the world and you’re not a Democrat?” asked Campbell. However, the former Governor of California bluntly answered the question with a hint of hesitation.

“When you marry a Democrat that doesn’t mean that you have to start throwing out your philosophy and then become a Democrat,” Arnie said. “I mean this is was not my style… I was a committed Republican,” Schwarzenegger added. The 76-year-old fitness icon also explained he was happy to marry into a family of Democrats.

When Alistair expressed some doubt, Schwarzenegger explained his statement. “I got… a lot of knowledge about the other side and so that was very important to me,” explained the Governator. He also revealed that political motivation wasn’t the reason he dated or married Maria Shriver. In fact, Shriver’s parents were the ones who piqued his interest in actively contributing to politics.

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How the Democrats inspired the Republican

The former Mr. Olympia said he started listening to his in-laws, Sargent Shriver and Eunice Kenndy. The Hollywood star heard them “always talk about service.” The Shrivers strived to help people in need. Schwarzenegger said they did everything in their power to help the unemployed, disabled, and minorities through politics, and it inspired Arnie.

In fact, it was Eunice Kennedy Shriver who brought Schwarzenegger into the fold. She asked him to help train special Olympians. Shortly after his first session, Schwarzenegger found himself actively participating in growing the Special Olympics. However, when Arnie became the Governor of California, he stayed true to his philosophy and ran as a Republican.

Hence, despite marrying into a family of Democrats, Arnonld Schwarzenegger remained a Republican.

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