Is The Rock cooking up a White House run? Wrestling star registered with electoral commission
A mysterious filing with the US Federal Election Commission (FEC) has prompted the bizarre question: Could former professional wrestler Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson trump a reality TV star for the US presidency?
Johnson, better known as "The Rock," has been registered with the US Federal Election Commission.
His name appeared in a FEC Form 1 document on the FEC website Tuesday, alongside the title of a new political entity called "Run The Rock 2020."
The form is required in order to set up an election campaign for a political party and was filed by a West Virginia resident called Kenton Tilford.
The Rock’s real name on the filing has raised eyebrows, with some begging the question whether the creator of the "People’s Elbow" will launch a run for the White House in 2020.
Johnson has joked about the prospect in the past.
America, I hear you.
— Dwayne Johnson (@TheRock) May 20, 2017
Tune in TONIGHT for our season finale of @nbcsnl for suprises and big laughs. #SNLFinale#5xHost #2020 🔥💪🏾🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/EdEgDwXX4V
Such an event would pit Apprentice star and current US President Donald Trump against a former WWE wrestler.
Rumors going around that The Rock might actually be running for president in 2020
— kenny knox (@KennyKnox) July 11, 2017
I really hope @TheRock actually runs for president in 2020 & a steel cage match between him & @realDonaldTrump decides who's the next prez.
— shyguy shawn (@shyguyshawn) July 11, 2017
The Rock for President in 2020?!
— SUNNI (@SunniAndTheCity) July 11, 2017
Im voting @TheRock for president in 2020
— Prolly Downtown (@AAANTWON) July 11, 2017
The existence of a Form 1 with Johnson’s name doesn’t necessarily mean he’s gearing up for office, though, since according to the FEC website an individual can fill out an application on another person’s behalf.
Interestingly, it is actually illegal to fill out a false FEC form.
“Please be advised that knowingly and willfully making any materially false, fictitious, or fraudulent statement or representation to a federal government agency, including the Federal Election Commission, is punishable under the provisions of 18 USC 1001,” a FEC notice reads.
A sum in excess of $5,000 is also required to register a candidate.
An FEC spokesperson told RT.com that the document filed on behalf of Johnson concerns the setting up of a “draft committee.”
“A draft committee is a political committee that is established solely to draft an individual or to encourage him or her to become a candidate for federal office. This filing does not represent an individual's candidate registration for elected office,” he said.
