Terrence Howard has caught backlash online in recent years for his outspoken scientific and social views, a position he might try to take all the way to the White House. While speaking to TMZ in New York City on Wednesday (October 28), he teased the idea of a United States presidential run while commenting on his recent remarks on slavery reparations.
The actor said he'd be open to meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump to educate him on the impact of slavery on people of color and how it created systemic abuses and socioeconomic disparities for the last 400 years. He proposed federal tax exemptions for descendants of slaves in the U.S. for the next 400 years.
Also, Howard commented on one of Trump's most ardent celebrity allies, responding to a question about Nicki Minaj by saying she could help him support this policy. He argued the tax exemptions would create investment opportunities for African American communities and set an example for the world about "how to heal 400 years of bad karma."
Towards the end of Terrence Howard's conversation with TMZ, he said he's "looking forward to becoming president" when asked about voting in the midterms. He added: "If they're not going to make a difference, somebody's got to do something. Somebody's got to do something that's got some heart."
Terrence Howard Wants To Be President
We'll see if this actually pans out into a 2028 campaign. While most folks don't take celebrity statements like this seriously, the election of Donald Trump in 2016 did set a bizarre precedent for fame transitioning into public policy.
Elsewhere, Terrence Howard has rallied against other institutions, namely the structure of Hollywood. He's spoken in the past about being able to expose a lot of industry secrets, adding to his history of wild comments and claims that tend to go viral.
Terrence Howard's lofty ambitions might get him in the right rooms to have these conversations. But a lot of folks also doubt this is anything more than ego-boosting. In any case, we're sure Howard will have plenty to say about the U.S. political climate as the country heads towards midterm elections.
