Former Disney CEO Bob Iger admits his presidential ambitions were 'naive'
Former Disney CEO Bob Iger is "over" his presidential dreams.
Iger, who's stepping away as Disney's executive chair at the end of this month after previously stepping down as CEO, conducted something of an exit interview with Variety. In the piece, published Tuesday, he reflected on the fact that he once seriously considered running for president and told Variety a political future is now off the table for him.
"Looking back on it, I think I was a little bit too idealistic," Iger said. "I think I was just really naive and maybe a bit presumptuous about my abilities, but more than that just presumptuous about my chances. And I'm just over it."
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Iger previously revealed he thought about running for president before the 2016 election and prior to the 2020 election, saying, "I really thought about running for governor and running for senator and running for mayor of New York and ultimately thought about running for president, which is I guess the ultimate sacrifice really."
He also said his wife was against the idea. "I said to her, 'I don't know what got into me. I'm going to run for president," Iger said. "And she broke out into tears. She basically said it will ruin our lives." His children didn't want him to run, either, so "the rest is history."
Iger's unrealized run wasn't entirely without support, however. "If Bob Iger had decided to run for president, I would be canvassing in Iowa right now," Oprah Winfrey said in 2019. "I would be going door to door."
Speaking about his post-Disney future to Variety, Iger indicated he has "no interest in running another company," and he's looking forward to having a "true day off."
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Brendan worked as a culture writer at The Week from 2018 to 2023, covering the entertainment industry, including film reviews, television recaps, awards season, the box office, major movie franchises and Hollywood gossip. He has written about film and television for outlets including Bloody Disgusting, Showbiz Cheat Sheet, Heavy and The Celebrity Cafe.
-
Political cartoons for December 6Cartoons Saturday’s political cartoons include a pardon for Hernandez, word of the year, and more
-
Pakistan: Trump’s ‘favourite field marshal’ takes chargeIn the Spotlight Asim Munir’s control over all three branches of Pakistan’s military gives him ‘sweeping powers’ – and almost unlimited freedom to use them
-
Codeword: December 6, 2025The daily codeword puzzle from The Week
-
Trump tightens restrictions for work visasSpeed Read The length of work permits for asylum seekers and refugees has been shortened from five years to 18 months
-
Supreme Court revives Texas GOP gerrymanderSpeed Read Texas Republicans can use the congressional map they approved in August at President Donald Trump’s behest
-
Boat strike footage rattles some lawmakersSpeed Read ‘Disturbing’ footage of the Sept. 2 attack on an alleged drug-trafficking boat also shows the second strike that killed two survivors who were clinging to the wreckage
-
Trump boosts gas cars in fuel economy rollbackspeed read Watering down fuel efficiency standards is another blow to former President Biden’s effort to boost electric vehicles
-
Hegseth’s Signal chat put troops in peril, probe findsSpeed Read The defense secretary risked the lives of military personnel and violated Pentagon rules, says new report
-
Trump pardons Texas Democratic congressmanspeed read Rep. Henry Cuellar was charged with accepting foreign bribes tied to Azerbaijan and Mexico
-
GOP wins tight House race in red Tennessee districtSpeed Read Republicans maintained their advantage in the House
-
Trump targets ‘garbage’ Somalis ahead of ICE raidsSpeed Read The Department of Homeland Security will launch an immigration operation targeting Somali immigrants in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area
