Former California Governor and actor Arnold Schwarzenegger made a guest appearance on ABC’s The View on Tuesday, and it didn’t quite go the way the liberal hosts had planned. They thought they had an ally in their corner, and discovered they’d invited a lion in their midst.
Schwarzenegger, 77, a Republican, was born in Austria, and legally immigrated to the United States in 1968 when he was 21 and a bodybuilding star. He later turned to acting, and then politics. Schwarzenegger gained his U.S. citizenship in 1983. He served as the governor of California from Nov. 2003 to January 2011.
Panelist Joy Behar started off by asking Schwarzenegger, “You are an immigrant to this country. Did you have a visceral reaction to what ICE is doing, when you see the videos,” referring to the ICE raids and deportations.
But the former Terminator star didn’t take the bait.
Schwarzenegger first said, “I’m so proud and happy that I was embraced by the American people.” He recalled his own experience in legally immigrating to the U.S., and emphasized that this is the greatest country in the world and the land of opportunity.
“I’m so proud and happy that I was embraced by the American people like that. Imagine I came over here with absolutely nothing, and then to create a career like that. In no other country in the world could you do that. Every single thing is because of America,” he said.
He then revealed that he has been asked to give the keynote speech at an event at Mount Vernon on July 4, to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the nation.
Then he dropped the bombshell on them.
“But the key thing also is, at the same time, that we got to do things legal — that is the important thing,” Schwarzenegger said. “Those people that are doing illegal things in America, and they’re the foreigners, they are not smart… because when you come to America, you’re a guest, and you have to behave like a guest.”
“Like when I go to someone’s house and I’m a guest, then I will do everything I can to keep things clean, and to make my bed and to do everything that is the right thing to do rather than committing a crime, or being abusive or something like that,” he continued.
“Then you have to think about, ‘OK, if I get all of those things from America, then I have to give something back,'” he said. “You have a responsibility as an immigrant to give back to America, and to pay back America, and to go and do something for your community for no money whatsoever.”
“Give something back to after school programs, Special Olympics, or whatever it is — make this country a better place.”
WATCH THE STUNNING MOMENT BELOW:
Everybody stop and watch this.
Arnold Schwarzenegger, a legal immigrant, successful actor, and former California Governor, just left The View STUNNED.
They attempted to get him to condemn ICE raids and what did he do?
He credited America for his success, promoted legal… pic.twitter.com/IxtQVcKo6D
— Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) June 17, 2025
REACTIONS:
I don’t care much for Arnold’s politics but the reality is Arnold Schwarzenegger is the perfect example of an immigrant that came to America the right way, and lived out the American Dream. I respect him more now for not pretending he hates the country that made him who he is.… pic.twitter.com/dD2hpCFyjV
— Common Cent$ (@Common_Cent1) June 17, 2025
Arnold Schwarzenegger managed To STUN ‘The View’ hosts into silence with his view on immigration.
Impressive. pic.twitter.com/COgILvjJC8
— Trish Regan (@trish_regan) June 18, 2025
