'Where is our leader?': Dwayne Johnson questions Trump's compassion amid George Floyd protests
It seems The Rock is not impressed by President Donald J. Trump's leadership amid the George Floyd fiasco. Dwayne Johnson took to social media late Wednesday night to share a passionate speech, aimed directly at the POTUS. "Where are you? Where is our leader? Where are you? Where is our leader at this time?" the 48-year-old actor and former wrestler began, not addressing Trump by name. "At this time when our country is down on its knees, begging, pleading, hurt, angry, frustrated, in pain, begging and pleading with its arms out just wanting to be heard."
Johnson referenced the ongoing unrest across the country in the wake of George Floyd, a 46-year-old black man who died at the hands of a white police officer in Minneapolis last Monday after he pressed his knee onto Floyd's neck for several minutes.
"Of course all lives matter, every single one," Johnson explained, referring to the Black Lives Matter movement. "All lives matter because we as Americans we believe in inclusivity, we believe in acceptance, we believe in human rights, we believe in equality for all. That's what we believe in. So of course all lives matter. But in this moment right now, this defining, pivotal, explosive moment where our country is down on its knees, the floorboards of our country are becoming unhinged, in this moment, we must say the words, black lives matter."
The 'Fast & Furious' star then slammed the president's decision to deploy the military against violent protesters. "There is military force that has been deployed on our own people. Looters, yes. Criminals, absolutely. But on protesters, who are begging and pleading, our protesters who are in pain?" he noted. "You would be surprised how people in pain would respond when you say, 'I care about you.' When you say to them, 'I'm listening to you.'"
Johnson also acknowledged how several countries across the globe had come out in protest. "I want to take a moment right now to thank the world for standing up with us in our fight for equality, to normalize equality," he said. "I want to thank all these countries around the world, incredible, inspiring, beautiful displays of solidarity... We see you, we thank you, we love you."
The former WWE megastar also acknowledged he has never been elected to office and is not a politician.
"I am not the president of the United States, but I am a man and I'm a father who cares so deeply about my family, about my children, and the world that they will live in," he said. "I care so deeply about our country and every single person in it. That's who I am. I am a man who is frustrated, I'm disappointed, I'm angry. But I'm also doing my best to stay focused and as calm as I can possibly be in the pocket to make the best decision for my family and make the best decisions for our country."
The father-of-three concluded his message by urging fellow Americans to be their own leaders.
"As we continue to wait for that leader to emerge, I would recommend to all of you that we must become the leaders we're looking for. We become our own leaders because we're doing it now," he said. "The process to change has already begun. You can feel it," he added.