Arnold Schwarzenegger took to Instagram this past weekend to commemorate an extraordinary milestone.
Celebrating his 40th anniversary as a U.S. citizen, Schwarzenegger, former Governor of California, shared an evocative slideshow capturing his remarkable journey from a small Austrian town to becoming one of the most recognizable faces in America.
“On this day 40 years ago, I became an American citizen. It is one of the proudest days of my life. I owe everything to America. Born in Austria, made in America!” wrote the 76-year-old star of the Terminator franchise.
Check out Schwarzenegger's post:The post featured a series of intimate photos, showing him taking the oath of U.S. citizenship in 1983, draped in an American flag shirt, and donning an Uncle Sam hat. Other snapshots displayed him proudly waving two American flags and striking a pose in front of the iconic Hollywood sign.
Schwarzenegger enriched the post by setting it to audio from his speech at the 2004 Republican National Convention in New York City. “My fellow Americans, this an amazing moment for me. To think a once-scrawny boy from Austria could grow up to become governor of the state of California, that is an immigrant’s dream,” he proclaimed in the audio.
“In school when the teacher would talk about America, I would daydream about coming here. I would daydream about living here,” Schwarzenegger elaborated. “As long as I live, I will never forget the day when I raised my hand for the oath of citizenship. You know how proud I was? I was so proud that I walked around with the American flag wrapped around my shoulder all day long,” added the seven-time Mr. Olympia bodybuilding champion.
Schwarzenegger further recounted his initial days in America. “I finally arrived here in 1968. What a special day it was. I remembered I arrived here with empty pockets but full of dreams, full of determination and full of desire,” the Total Recall star narrated. "Everything about America seemed so big to me, so open, so possible," he continued.
“To my fellow immigrants listening tonight, I want you to know how welcomed you are. We encourage your dreams. We believe in your future,” he reassured. Schwarzenegger, who was married to Maria Shriver for 25 years before their divorce in 2021, is a father to four children: daughters Katherine, 33, and Christina, 31, and sons Patrick, 29, and Christopher, 25.
In a recent YouTube video, the action star opened up about facing his third open-heart surgery just months before filming Terminator 6 in 2019. “It was a disaster. I was in the middle of a disaster. So now how do I get out of it? You have to shift gears,” he shared. Despite the hardship, Schwarzenegger credits his positive outlook for his recovery.
Whether it’s taking on challenging movie roles, facing health issues head-on, or climbing up the political ladder, Schwarzenegger’s journey embodies the quintessential American dream. His 40-year love affair with the United States stands as a testament to the opportunities and possibilities that the land of the free offers to everyone willing to dream.
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