Reviled hair tousler Jimmy Fallon had Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson on his Tonight Show couch Thursday. Johnson is currently on the promo circuit for his R-rated Baywatch movie, which opens next week, but was hit with some presidential rumor inquiries due to all the headlines spawned by his recent GQ cover story.
"There was an issue that the reporter brings up, and this is the possibility of you running for president," Fallon said. "People took that story and ran with that story. Why are people making such a connection or such a big deal about this?" According to Johnson, people just want "better" leadership.
"I would be remiss to say if I didn't mention her name," Johnson said of the article. "Caity Weaver is a really brilliant writer. The story has blown up because it was so wonderfully written, very very witty. She was amazing. But in it, as we were talking, she said, 'Would you ever consider running for president?' And I said, 'Yeah of course, I would consider it.'"
Johnson said he was flattered by the response to the article, mentioning a national poll that suggested he "would beat Donald Trump" in an election today. "I think it's because, you know, a lot of people want to see a different leadership today—or even, I'm sorry, not different, but better leadership today," Johnson said. "A better leadership. I think, you know, more poise, less noise. And I also think that, over the years, I've become a guy that a lot of people kinda relate to. [I] get up early in the morning at a ridiculous hour, go to work and spend time with the troops, take care of my family. I love taking care of people. And I think that kind of thing really resonates with people, especially today."
Johnson added that the 2020 election is still years away, "so we'll see."
