The Republican presidential primaries already have 13 candidates, making it one of the largest in history. Curiously, if it were not for the Constitution, it would already have its fourteenth candidate: Arnold Schwarzenegger. The famous actor assured that he would run and win, but the established birth requirements limit him.

Schwarzenegger addressed the upcoming presidential election in an interview with Chris Wallace. Although it has not yet been published, People magazine had access to some excerpts, including the aforementioned political statement.

“Yes, of course,” the actor answered after the CNN journalist asked him if he would run if it were not for the requirements that prevent him from doing so. The Constitution requires the president of the United States to be a “natural born citizen,” and the actor was born in Austria, as were his parents.

This discussion was front and center in 2016 with the candidacy of Ted Cruz (R-TX), who was born in Canada. However, the court ruled in his favor and found him eligible because “the candidate is a natural born citizen by virtue of being born in Canada to his mother who was a U.S. citizen at the time of his birth.”

In other words, the concept of natural-born citizenship has to do with someone who has rights under the Constitution at birth or by birth, which includes those born abroad to American parents.

Back to the legendary actor of “Terminator,” he commented that the electoral field “was wide open in 2016, and I think the field is wide open right now.” Modesty aside, he predicted that he would prevail at the polls should he be able to enter the race for the White House.

“I mean, think about it right now. I mean, who is there that is really a person that can bring everyone together … because it’s now a question about who do you vote against, rather than who do you vote for. Look, it’s a no-brainer. I see so clearly how I could win that election,” he added.

Schwarzenegger entered politics in 2003 when he ran as a Republican for governor of California in the recall election that removed Democrat Gray Davis from office.

Following a sweeping victory on the motion to oust Davis from office, the actor prevailed with 48.6% of the vote. Three years later, he was elected to a full term. Despite 2006 being a blue year in electoral terms, the Republican defeated his opponent by a margin of 17 percentage points. He left office in 2011 and has since been the last Republican to govern California.

Schwarzenegger’s republicanism came in opposition to socialism

As California’s governor, he gave a speech at the 2004 Republican National Convention, supporting George W. Bush and Dick Cheney. Reminiscing a bit, he explained that he came to the GOP because the Democrats of the 1960s were a lot like the socialists back home.

“I remember watching the Nixon–Humphrey presidential race on TV. A friend of mine who spoke German and English translated for me. I heard Humphrey saying things that sounded like socialism, which I had just left. But then I heard Nixon speak. He was talking about free enterprise, getting the government off your back, lowering the taxes and strengthening the military. Listening to Nixon speak sounded more like a breath of fresh air. I said to my friend, ‘What party is he from?’ My friend said, ‘He’s a Republican.’ I said: ‘Then I am a Republican.’ And I’ve been a Republican ever since,” he recalled.