In what might be the most unexpected political endorsement of the year, CNN Republican commentator Scott Jennings floated a surprising name as a potential replacement for Senator Marco Rubio if he’s tapped for Secretary of State in President Trump’s incoming administration: none other than Hulk Hogan.
While Jennings has been touted by some conservatives on X (formerly Twitter) as a possible pick for Trump’s White House Press Secretary, he turned the tables and offered his own suggestion for the U.S. Senate: the legendary pro-wrestler and pop culture icon Hulk Hogan.
Jennings made the tongue-in-cheek endorsement during a segment on CNN, reacting to the news that Rubio is the likely candidate for Secretary of State in Trump’s new cabinet. “If Marco Rubio does, in fact, become Secretary of State, we will need a new senator from the state of Florida,” Jennings said, setting the stage for his big reveal. “We need someone with Rubio’s national security credentials. Now, there is one Floridian who can do it. He stood up to the Russians and the Iranians in the 1980s when he defeated the Iron Sheik and Nikolai Volkoff, two of America’s most lethal folks.”
For those unfamiliar, the Iron Sheik and Nikolai Volkoff were wrestling villains from the 1980s who represented America’s Cold War adversaries in the wrestling ring. Jennings played up the nostalgia, joking that Hogan’s epic battles against these characters were akin to heroic acts of national defense. “He is a real American, he fights for the rights of every man, and he knows that courage is the thing that keeps us free,” Jennings continued with a grin. “Ladies and gentlemen, I announce — Ron DeSantis, get on it — Hulk Hogan for U.S. Senate.”
As if his pitch wasn’t already wild enough, Jennings took it a step further, unbuttoning his blazer to reveal a bright yellow “Hulkamania” t-shirt. The crowd erupted in laughter as he delivered the line, “And whatcha gonna do, Chuck Schumer, when Hulkamania runs wild on you, brother?” It was a perfect nod to Hogan’s iconic catchphrase, and even the typically stoic CNN panel couldn’t help but crack up.
LMAO: Scott Jennings says that HULK HOGAN should be appointed to the Senate by DeSantis to replace Rubio.
He is singlehandedly carrying CNN.pic.twitter.com/7lNBVY7p6C
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) November 13, 2024
Jennings, a self-professed lifelong fan of the wrestling legend, had the chance to meet Hogan at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee last summer. He posted a photo from the event on X, captioning it: “No matter what happens, I’ll always have this photo with my buddy @davidaxelrod & my childhood hero @HulkHogan, who absolutely brought the house down tonight in Milwaukee.”
While it’s clear that Jennings was having a bit of fun with his suggestion, it’s a reminder of the surreal intersection of politics and pop culture we’ve come to expect in the Trump era. Whether or not Hulk Hogan seriously considers a run for the U.S. Senate remains to be seen, but the thought of him squaring off against Chuck Schumer on the Senate floor is already making waves online. And let’s be honest: who wouldn’t want to see Hulk Hogan drop the legislative hammer on Capitol Hill?