‘The View' Challenges Arnold Schwarzenegger On Immigration Issues

Forbes

4 hours ago

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 11: Arnold Schwarzenegger attends Netflix's "FUBAR" Season 2 Los ... More Angeles Premiere at Netflix Tudum Theater on June 11, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by)
Arnold Schwarzenegger went to ABC's The View Tuesday to talk about Netflix's FUBAR Season 2, but the conversation quickly turned to politics since the actor was the governor of California from 2003 to 2011.
The View co-host Alyssa Farah Griffin first addressed Schwarzenegger, asking, 'There have been huge protests of President Trump's immigration policies — he threated to arrest [California Gov.] Gavin Newsom if he didn't comply — If you were governor of California, how would you be handling the crisis the state is facing?'
'Well, I think the most important thing is — when you are in a leadership position like that, is that you are inclusive and that you work together with everybody,' Schwarzenegger answered. 'And so it means that you have to work together. [The]
Secondly, Schwarzenegger stressed the need for immigration reform.
'For decades now, this country has needed immigration reform, which means that we recognize the fact there's people in the South of America that want to come North to work and that we therefore should supply them with enough visas so they can come, because we need those workers,' the FUBAR star said. 'So this is the bottom line. Because then we would know who is here, we will be able to get rid of the criminal elements that are here and all this stuff, so we wouldn't be in a mess that we're in right now.'
As such, Schwarzenegger — a Republican who backed former Vice President and Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris in 2024 presidential election — noted that to create immigration reform, both major parties must do it together.
'Democrats and Republicans have to come together and solve this issue if they really want to be public servants,' Schwarzenegger said. 'If they want to be party servants, to be party hacks and be tight with their ideology, then it won't happen.
'But if you want to make this country better, and if you want to improve this country and improve the situation of people's lives, and bring the prices down of this [and that], you will go and serve the people of America,' Schwarzenegger added. 'This is what it is if you're a public servant. That's what you're supposed to [do], you know?"
SACRAMENTO, CA - NOVEMBER 17: California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger speaks from behind the ... More California governor's seal for the first time after taking the oath of office November 17, 2003 in Sacramento, California. Schwarzenegger is taking office as the 38th governor of California after defeating Governor Gray Davis in a historic recall election. (Photo by)
Also during his visit on The View, Arnold Schwarzenegger— who was born in Austria — was asked by co-host Joy Behar if he, 'as an immigrant of this country' had 'a visceral reaction to what they're doing — to what I.C.E. is doing— when you see the videos of it'?
Schwarzenegger didn't comment and instead focused on how grateful he was for the opportunities America gave him as an immigrant.
'I'm so proud and happy that I was embraced by the American people like that. I mean, imagine I came over here at the age of 21 with absolutely nothing, and then to create a career like that,' Schwarzenegger said. 'I mean, in no other country in the world could you do that. Every single thing, if it's my bodybuilding career, if it's my acting career, becoming governor, the beautiful family that I've created, all this is because America is strong.'
With the opportunities, Schwarzenegger explained to The View co-hosts, come responsibilities.
'The key thing also is at the same time that we got to do things legally. That is the important thing. You got to do things legal[ly],' Schwarzenegger said. 'And those people that are doing illegal things in America and they are 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, I'm a guest, then they will do everything I can, 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,' Schwarzenegger added. 'So, that doesn't really work in this country.'
In addition, Schwarzenegger noted how important to give back when you're given opportunities.
'I think the important thing is, when you become an immigrant, to think about, 'Okay, I go to America because I want to use America for the great opportunities that America has in education, in jobs, creating a family, all of those kind of things,' then you have to think about, 'Okay, if I get all of those things from America, then I have to give something back.'' Schwarzenegger said.
'You have a responsibility as an immigrant to give back to America and to pay back to America, and to go and do something for your community, for no money whatsoever, give something back to after school program, Special Olympics or whatever it is," he added. "Make this country a better place.'
After his comments, The View co-hosts Whoopi Goldberg and Sunny Hostin chimed in, with Goldberg adding, 'Don't forget, 90% of the people who come here are doing the right thing, while Hostin said, 'They're less likely to commit crimes.'
Arnold Schwarzenegger's entire segment on Tuesday's episode of The View can be seen below. FUBAR Season 2, starring Schwarzenegger, Carrie-Anne Moss, Monica Barbaro, Fortune Feimster, Milan Carter and Travis Van Winkle, is streaming on Netflix.