Arnold Schwarzenegger Tells Far-Left Jimmy Kimmel He is 'Absolutely' a Republican, Calls Obamacare 'Bogus'
Veteran bodybuilder, actor, and former Republican Gov. of California Arnold Schwarzenegger has not abandoned the GOP.
On Wednesday, Schwarzenegger sat down with extreme liberal late-night comedian Jimmy Kimmel, host of ABC’s “Jimmy Kimmel Live,” and defended his lengthy affiliation with the Republican Party, declaring himself “absolutely” still a Republican.
He even blasted Obamacare, former President Barack Obama’s signature health-care legislation, as “bogus.”
Schwarzenegger’s spirited defense of Republicanism, at least as he understands it, began after the 79-year-old former movie star, best known for his roles in 20th-century action films such as “The Terminator” franchise, touted his various Veterans Day initiatives designed to show thanks to veterans — initiatives on which he has collaborated with his predecessor in office, former Democratic Gov. Gray Davis.
Kimmel then tried using that bipartisan collaboration as a wedge.
“With that said, are you still a Republican?” Kimmel asked in a video posted to YouTube.
“Yeah, I’m a Republican. Absolutely,” Schwarzenegger replied.
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“What does that even mean anymore?” the host shot back.
At that point, Schwarzenegger probably surprised both Kimmel and his audience by correctly crediting Republicans with having freed the slaves in the 1860s.
“Yeah, that was a while ago. They don’t get credit for that anymore,” Kimmel objected, though he did not say why.
Later, Schwarzenegger elaborated on his continued commitment to the Republican Party by citing, for instance, environmental initiatives by former Republican presidents Richard Nixon and Ronald Reagan.
Next, the former governor noted Democrats’ massive 2026 midterm gains. Unlike most pundits, however, he did not characterize those gains as a watershed political moment. Instead, he viewed them as merely the latest in a series of political oscillations over the last 20 years, none of which have produced results on immigration reform, debt reduction, or health care.
Kimmel, however, could not stand to hear criticism leveled at Republicans and Democrats equally.
“One of them tried,” the host feebly interjected, referring to Obamacare.
“Oh, bogus,” Schwarzenegger shot back. “Believe me.”
“What do you mean it’s bogus?” the Obama-worshiping Kimmel objected.
“Ask ordinary people how their health-care cost is going up,” the Republican replied, pointing to the audience.
Schwarzenegger then declared that Republicans or Democrats doing anything on their own qualifies as “bogus.” Only by working together, he said, can they operate as true public servants.
Not all Republicans, of course, would eagerly count Schwarzenegger as one of them.
The former governor, for instance, fully endorsed COVID-era authoritarianism. He also once participated in a pseudo-religious nature-worship ceremony in which Pope Leo XIV blessed a block of ice.
On the other hand, Republicans almost certainly enjoyed watching Kimmel squirm as Schwarzenegger pointed out the failures and hyper-partisanship of both parties.
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