Arnold Schwarzenegger and his ex-wife Maria Shriver hailed from two completely different worlds. The former bodybuilding legend established his phenomenal legacy across myriad verticles. Conversely, Shriver, a journalist and an activist, has strong political backing and a lineage of the Kennedys. That said, Shriver once angered her parents for a remark she made on national media.

Decades ago, her answer to a delicate question disturbed the political sentiments of their family which led to her distancing away from her home for months. In a chat with host Arsenio Hall in 1991, she shared the estranged experience.

Arnold Schwarzenegger was Maria Shriver’s first-ever Republican

The Terminator star entered the realm of politics in 2003. However, he always had his political leaning toward the Republicans despite marrying into a family having strong roots with the Democrats. To a question in an interview from the past on whether Schwarzenegger was Shriver’s first Republican, she answered boldly.

“Arnold was my first Republican,” she said. Furthermore, Shriver shared the consequences of her answer in the interview with Arsenio. “I couldn’t go home for months after that,” she said about her angry parents. The host asked whether she was hard-headed. “I am a little stubborn, ” she replied. 

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Although Schwarzenegger and Shriver were always considered a political odd couple as Shriver is a niece of the late U.S. president John F. Kennedy who was a Democrat. They put their political differences behind them and shared a great connection as a family. But Shriver was faced with a bigger challenge when the action star informed her about contesting elections.

Shriver was shaken by the decision

In a 2012 interview while promoting his autobiography, Total Recall, Schwarzenegger shared Shriver’s response to his decision.“She started shaking. And she had tears in her eyes. I realize that I was stepping into something that was much deeper than just me running and her being a supportive wife,” he said. The former governor realized his resolve had a greater impact than he imagined.

 The journalist and doting wife, Shriver, quit her job and lent her unwavering support to him. Schwarzenegger served two terms as the Governor of California. The couple separated in 2011 after infidelity allegations.

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