Arnold Schwarzenegger, who supports John Kasich’s bid for the U.S. presidency, apparently cut short an interview with a reporter in Australia after she asked starting asking questions about Donald Trump and his controversial 2016 campaign.
The actor, who was there to promote his Arnold World Strongman Championships fitness events, was interviewed by Angela Cox for Channel 7’s Weekend Sunrise program. He’s set to take over as the host of NBC’s “Celebrity Apprentice” program, which was previously hosted by Trump, now the GOP frontrunner.
But when Cox inquired about Trump — this after asking Schwarzenegger more personal questions — the interview was over. “This is an interview that I only do about fitness and health, not about politics or my relationships,” he told Cox before walking off the set.
According to The New York Post, which first reported the story, Schwarzenegger had earlier evaded discussion of his personal life, including the controversy in 2011 that he had fathered a child with his then-housekeeper, leading to his divorce from Maria Shriver. “The important thing is that I continue with my work, and health and fitness is what really counts for me,” he said.
Team Arnold denies that the former California governor left in a hurry or unhappy, stating that Cox’s time with Schwarzenegger was over.
“The journalist [Cox] was allocated five minutes and we ran over time, so we cut the interview short,” said Max Markson, Schwarzenegger’s Australian publicist. “I think she’s just trying to make a name for herself. She’s new on the show. Her line of questioning was inappropriate.”