Governor Newsom Omits Schwarzenegger from California Hall of Fame Induction

California Governor Gavin Newsom did not include Arnold Schwarzenegger’s name in the recent California Hall of Fame induction list announced on Monday.

During a reception at the California Museum, attendees remarked on the names being read aloud, with reports following shortly thereafter. It seems there was a bit of buzz around this, especially as Politico published a report on the matter on Tuesday.

Newsom’s spokesperson, Bob Saladay, pushed back against claims that Schwarzenegger had been intentionally left out due to opposition to Newsom’s initiatives. He explained that there was a delay in announcing the new class.

“No one’s been snubbed,” Saladay stated, as per Politico’s coverage. He clarified that the list would remain the same and is expected to be published in a few months, likely around November.

Interestingly, many alumni connected to Schwarzenegger have been invited to the event, raising eyebrows about the omission. Daniel Kechel, a spokesperson for Schwarzenegger, mentioned that Schwarzenegger had been informed of the planned induction and expressed confusion regarding his name’s absence from the announcement. He emphasized that politics shouldn’t influence Hall of Fame decisions, recalling how Schwarzenegger himself established the Hall when he was in office.

“It’s not a Republican Hall of Fame or a Democrat Hall of Fame; it’s a California Hall of Fame,” Kechel remarked, underscoring that the recognition should transcend political lines.

He added that Schwarzenegger, with numerous accolades already displayed, wouldn’t be too bothered by this omission—even if it does seem a little odd.