The Rock Warned That Getting Into Politics Could Cost Him His Fanbase

The Rock may have conquered wrestling, Hollywood, and global superstardom—but Kane says politics should be off the table.

During a recent appearance on Going Ringside, Glen Jacobs — better known to WWE fans as Kane — issued a strong warning to Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson about potentially entering the political arena. Jacobs, now serving as the Mayor of Knox County, Tennessee, spoke from firsthand experience and didn’t sugarcoat the reality of modern politics.

“If I were him, I wouldn’t. Politics is incredibly contentious and toxic right now. Everybody likes Dwayne, no matter where you are in the political spectrum, because he’s a great entertainer and just a good guy.”

While The Rock has flirted with the idea of running for office — even prompting national polling about a potential presidential bid — Jacobs believes the move would be a massive misstep for someone so universally loved.

“Gotta remember, no matter what you say in politics, 50% of people are just going to knee-jerk disagree with you, and you’re going to really tick some folks off. I’ve had to deal with that, obviously. If I were him, I would advise him not to do that, personally.”

Instead, Jacobs pointed to alternative ways Johnson could make a meaningful impact without diving into the toxic world of campaigning and partisanship.

“And he can still have an impact, obviously, you see folks that do great work through philanthropy, as well as getting in politics behind the scenes. And that can be just as important as what happens out in the public eye.”

The biggest takeaway came with a blunt reminder: even someone as beloved as The Rock won’t be immune to the backlash.

“So I would advise him not to, because it’s not one of those things where you can go in and he’s really famous and everybody’s going to like him. No, what’s going to happen is you’re going to immediately alienate 50% of your fanbase, which can be an uncomfortable place to be.”

As The Rock continues to dominate box offices and awards circuits—now earning a Golden Globe nomination for The Smashing Machine—the question of “President Johnson” still lingers. But for now, one of his legendary peers is telling him to stay in his lane.