Arnold Schwarzenegger's Immigration Comments Go Viral

Newsweek

6 hours ago

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Arnold Schwarzenegger, the former Republican governor of California, has waded into the immigration debate during a forthright appearance on The View, with his remarks going viral across social media platforms.
"You have a responsibility as an immigrant to pay back to America," the Austrian-born actor said. "When you come to America, you're a guest and you have to behave like a guest."
Newsweek has reached out to a representative for Schwarzenegger outside of regular working hours via email for comment.
Why It Matters
Schwarzenegger's comments come after Los Angeles, where he lives, faced protest and unrest following Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raiding several downtown neighborhoods as part of the Trump administration's crackdown on illegal immigration. Protests later spread to other states.
The administration has vowed to carry out the largest mass deportation in U.S. history, authorizing ICE raids around the country. Some arrests have been perceived as heavy-handed.
A Reuters/Ipsos poll conducted June 11–12 found Americans divided over President Donald Trump's deployment of military forces in L.A., with 48 percent supporting the move and 41 percent opposing it. Overall, while 52 percent of respondents favored increased deportations, 49 percent thought the administration had gone too far.
Arnold Schwarzenegger attends a SiriusXM Town Hall hosted by Andy Cohen at SiriusXM Studios on June 17, 2025 in New York City.
Arnold Schwarzenegger attends a SiriusXM Town Hall hosted by Andy Cohen at SiriusXM Studios on June 17, 2025 in New York City.for SiriusXM
What To Know
Schwarzenegger was asked The View's co-host Joy Behar about his reaction to "What ICE is doing."
In response, Schwarzenegger, who served as governor from 2003 to 2011, said that he is "so proud and happy that I was embraced by the American people like that... In no other country in the world could you do that."
He added: "The key thing is, we got to do things legal.
"Those people that are doing things illegal, and they're the foreigners, they are not smart. When you come to America, you're a guest and you have to behave like a guest."
It's not the first time that Schwarzenegger, who is currently promoting the second series of his Netflix show Fubar, has addressed the topic of immigration.
At the Season Two premiere of Fubar, he told Variety, when asked about Trump's decision to send in the National Guard to the protests in L.A.: "Politicians have the responsibility to create immigration reform, so we don't have to have this crap going on in the first place."
"This is the result of Democrats and Republicans not being able to come together in this immigration reform. And so that's what needs to be done so that you don't have to go and start arresting people in the first place, so we know who is in this country and who is working here, who has the temporary working permit, who has the permanent working permit," Schwarzenegger said.
The clip was shared by @bennyjohnson on X where it received 7.7 million views as of the time this article was published, and again by @OliLondonTV where it received a further 2 million views.
During his tenure as California's governor, Schwarzenegger often walked a centrist line on immigration. He advocated for border security while also supporting pathways to legal residency, criticizing both major parties for their failure to deliver lasting immigration reform.
What People Are Saying
Benny Johnson, a media personality who has contributed to several conservative outlets, on X: "Arnold Schwarzenegger, a legal immigrant, successful actor, and former California Governor, just left The View STUNNED... Absolute masterclass."
Rob Schneider, the actor, who endorsed Donald Trump in 2024, on X: "Weight Lifter Arnold Schwarzenegger isn't worried about riots in his guard gated community."