Celebrity and novelty 2028 presidential candidates
Could Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, MrBeast, or MatPat run for president in 2028? Every cycle a few celebrity names and internet draft movements go viral. Here is the honest, fact-checked answer: none of them has launched a real 2028 campaign - and in one case the Constitution makes it impossible.
The short answer
No celebrity is actually running for president in 2028. The names that trend are internet jokes and fan draft movements, not declared candidacies. The one hard rule worth knowing: a president must be at least 35 years old, which rules out MrBeast on age alone. The Rock and MatPat are old enough, but neither is running.
Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson
Eligible, but says he is not running
The actor and former wrestler is the celebrity most often floated for president, and the speculation is not entirely made up - he publicly weighed a run before 2024 and polls showed real curiosity. But he ultimately said the job was not for him and that he would rather influence through his platform. He is a natural-born U.S. citizen (born in Hayward, California) and would be 56 on Inauguration Day, so he is constitutionally eligible. As of mid-2026 he has not launched anything resembling a 2028 campaign.
Born May 2, 1972 · would be 56 on Inauguration Day (Jan 20, 2029) · Wikipedia
MrBeast (Jimmy Donaldson)
Constitutionally ineligible - too young
The world's biggest YouTuber draws constant 'MrBeast for president' jokes, but there is a hard constitutional problem: the president must be at least 35 years old. Born in 1998, Jimmy Donaldson would be just 30 on Inauguration Day in January 2029 - five years under the minimum. He could not legally take office even if he ran and won, so a 2028 MrBeast presidency is impossible. He has shown no interest in running, and the earliest he could meet the age requirement is the 2032 cycle.
Born May 7, 1998 · would be 30 on Inauguration Day (Jan 20, 2029) · Wikipedia
MatPat (Matthew Patrick)
Eligible, but it is an internet joke
'MatPat for President' is a long-running gag from the Game Theory creator's fan community, not a real campaign - and MatPat actually stepped back from full-time YouTube in 2024. He is a natural-born citizen and would be 42 on Inauguration Day, so he clears the eligibility bar, but there is no actual 2028 candidacy here. It is a meme, and an affectionate one.
Born November 15, 1986 · would be 42 on Inauguration Day (Jan 20, 2029) · Wikipedia
Want the people who are actually running? See the full 2028 candidate list, take the which 2028 candidate matches you quiz, or compare contenders on the head-to-head matchups page.