The Rock talks politics, says Trump should 'sit down' with Springsteen

Brendan Morrow, USA TODAYThu, June 11, 2026 at 1:53 PM UTC

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Is The Rock cooking up peace talks between Bruce Springsteen and President Donald Trump?

Dwayne Johnson touched on politics in a new Esquire story published on June 11 after years of floating the idea of running for president.

The "Moana" star, 54, told Esquire that his primary focus at this point is "storytelling" and creating art, adding that he has "learned I'm going to keep my politics to myself."

But he continued, "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. Politics is omnipresent and it's forever. I don't like it. I hate it at times. I hate the slinging. I hate all the [expletive] that comes with it."

Dwayne Johnson attends CinemaCon on April 13, 2026, in Las Vegas, Nevada.

The conversation turned to politics after the Esquire writer mentioned going to see Springsteen, who is famously vocal in his disdain for Trump, in concert. The singer frequently slams Trump on stage and released a protest song calling him out in January. For his part, Trump has hit back at Springsteen, calling him "very boring" and a "total loser."

Speaking to Esquire, Johnson suggested Springsteen and Trump should sit down and hash out their issues.

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"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 has generally not been especially political during his career, but he did endorse Joe Biden for president in the 2020 election. In a video with Biden and his running mate, Kamala Harris, the "Smashing Machine" star praised Biden for his "great compassion and heart and drive, but also soul."

Johnson did not, however, make an endorsement in the 2024 presidential election. In a conversation with Fox News, he said it "tears me up" that his 2020 endorsement caused "an incredible amount of division." He also told Fox he was declining to endorse anyone in 2024 because he decided that "with this level of influence, I'm gonna keep my politics to myself, and I think it's between me and the ballot box."

Johnson has previously said he voted for former President Barack Obama twice, but did not vote at all in 2016.

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The WWE star has on many occasions discussed the idea of running for president himself, and at one point during the Esquire interview, he and the journalist asked AI why people might vote for him. When they received a detailed answer about how a vote for Johnson would be a vote "against the current system," the reporter wondered if this could be the "beginning of the Rock running for president," and Johnson remarked that he's "gotta show this to my team."

Dwayne Johnson speaks during CinemaCon on April 16, 2026, in Las Vegas.

Johnson previously told USA TODAY in 2021 that he would run for president in the future "if that's what the people wanted." He later said in 2022 that a presidential bid was off the table because he doesn't want to miss time with his children, though on "The Tonight Show" in 2023, he said he'd consider a run "down the road, for sure." On his NBC sitcom "Young Rock," which premiered in 2021, Johnson played himself in the future, running for president in the 2032 election.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson talks politics, Trump and Springsteen

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