Arnold Schwarzenegger To Possibly Run For Senator

by Chiqui Guyjoco / Mar 11, 2017 08:42 AM EST

Arnold Schwarzenegger Visits 'The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon'

"The Terminator" star and former California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger may launch a political comeback for the senate in 2018, said California-based GOP political insiders. The 69-year-old Austrian-American actor had been locked in a Tweetstorm for months with no less than the U.S. President Donald Trump. Schwarzenegger just might take his social media battle with the president to the next level.

According to POLITICO, a veteran GOP strategist said that Schwarzenegger is eyeing the soon to be vacated seat of Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein that "would give Arnold the stage to jam Trump for the next 16 months.'' His spokesman Daniel Ketchell neither denied nor confirmed the reports. He told POLITICO in an email Thursday, "Right now Gov. Schwarzenegger's focus is on using his platform to bring some sensibility and coherency to Washington by fighting for redistricting reform like we did in California. We are keeping all of our options open as far as how we can accomplish that."

Veteran GOP political consultant and an outspoken Trump critic Luis Alvarado welcomed the idea of Schwarzenegger running for the U.S. Senate as he considered the actor to be the Republican party's alternative "that would somehow restore balance in this universe of madness" in the Trump era.

Former political speechwriter Bill Whalen considered the verbal feud between the president and Arnold Schwarzenegger as a vehicle to "feed off each other." Through their Twitter digs, the president is able to steer attention from the more serious issue at hand while Schwarzenegger relishes in the spotlight that seemingly "gives him relevance." Schwarzenegger refused to endorse Trump in the recent presidential elections while Trump mocked him for the low ratings on "The New Celebrity Apprentice."

The former professional bodybuilder responded by challenging Trump that they switch jobs instead so "then people can finally sleep comfortably again." Sources said Schwarzenegger would possibly run as an independent candidate for the U.S. Senate.