To say that America is under bad leadership feels like a drastic understatement. From the day that he was sworn in, President Donald J. Trump has already managed to screw up a laundry-list of things, from pulling out of the Paris Climate Agreement to attempting to terminate DACA (aka deport millions of undocumented young immigrants). He has proven to be the most incompetent, immature, and narcissistic person to ever be voted into office. And perhaps this is why I feel the need preface this gallery by saying that literally anyone would make a better president than The Apprentice reality TV star.
Though it has been less than 300 since he was sworn in (not like anyone’s counting), it feels more like we’ve been under his leadership for about a decade. At this point, we’ve endured more than enough of his childish tweets and inappropriate comments, so now, we’re looking to some of the best celebrities who would put the president to shame if they ever had to opportunity to serve in his place. We should note that basically everyone on this list is well-versed in current political affairs and social issues. And that alone makes them way more qualified to do the job.
1. Meryl Streep
Remember that classic Golden Globes speech when Meryl Streep called Donald out for being a heartless and inconsiderate bully? Well, that alone makes us want her to be our new president. She understands the importance of gender equality, that immigrants help this country thrive, that freedom of the press is important, and that empathy goes a long way. Meryl has the kindest heart and we’re so lucky to have a talented legend like her among us. Plus, we feel like she’d fit right in at the oval office.
2. Oprah Winfrey
She’s a successful talk show host, actress, producer, and philanthropist with her own TV network. And according to CNN, she is “arguably the world’s most powerful woman.” Now imagine how epic it would be if she were to add “President of the United States” to her lengthy list of achievements.
If Oprah ever did run for president, we’d see three things. Number one, with her wealth, she’d easily be able to fund her campaign. Number two, due to her decades of experience on camera (whether it was by conducting interviews or having insightful discussions), she’d destroy her opponents during political debates. And third, she’d garner a ton of support from her core fan base and the female population. We’re sure she’d make an ideal president because she’s got the knowledge, the grit, and the backbone to do the job well.
3. Ellen DeGeneres
We all want Ellen, an honest gift to mankind, to be our president – and she knows it too. On her show, she actually addressed the fact that she got ranked number one on a list of stars who’d make the best president. And can you blame the voters? She’d make history by becoming be the first gay and female president, and she’d keep everyone laughing. But sadly, the chances of this ever happening are zero, as she mentioned on her talk show.
“I have no political ambition whatsoever,” she explained. “I have a few ideas about how to make life better for people. Like, for instance, if I were to be president I would close the gender pay gap. I don’t think there should be any difference that. First on my agenda.” Oh how we love you, Ellen DeGeneres.
4. Jon Stewart
Jon Stewart hosted The Daily Show for over 16 years, keeping us all informed and making us laugh with his satirical commentary on a daily basis. He was so well versed on the latest issues (both in the U.S. and abroad), he never hesitated to call out public figures or the media for their hypocrisy, and best of all, he understood when it was appropriate to put his humor on the backburner and get serious.
Since he had such a huge influence on us as a TV show host, we imagine that his impact as the U.S. president would increase tenfold. His insightful opinions proved that he understood the complicated issues facing the country, and he was always pretty passionate in his responses. That’s the kind of person we could use in the White House right now.
5. Jesse Williams
When he received the Humanitarian Award at the 2016 BET Awards, he delivered one of the most powerful speeches we ever heard. In fact, his bold commentary on topics like racism, police brutality, and activism led fans to start claiming that they’d totally vote Jesse for the next president of the United States (and we were one of them, obvi).
In case you’re confused as to why we think he’d be such an awesome leader, here’s a little excerpt from his speech: “The burden of the brutalized is not to comfort the bystander. That’s not our job. If you have a critique for the resistance, for our resistance, then you better have an established record of critique of our oppression. If you have no interest, if you have no interest in equal rights for black people then do not make suggestions to those who do.” Mic. Drop.
6. Beyoncé
Can you imagine the level of support that Queen Bey would get from her loyal beyhive? Like, her fanbase alone could probably win her the entire election (because who doesn’t love Beyoncé?). She has already taken the music industry by storm, successfully juggling it with motherhood. But this hasn’t stopped her from staying informed and spreading awareness about issues that are facing the country.
For instance, her music video for “Formation” tackled issues like racism and police brutality. And she even wrote an insightful essay addressing gender inequality. This is why we would not hesitate to rally behind the queen if she ever ran for president.
7. Jay-Z
Considering the details of his complicated past, we imagine that opposing politicians would have a field day during campaign season. But even so, we trust that his entrepreneurship, philanthropy, and interest in politics would far outweigh his setbacks. He would also have the support of former president Barack Obama because he was actively involved in both of his campaigns. And that’s a major plus in our book.
Obama once said: “Every time I talk to Jay-Z, who is a brilliant talent and a good guy, I enjoy how he thinks. That’s somebody who is going to start branching out and can help shape attitudes in a real positive way.” Those also happen to be the same unique qualities that would make an awesome president.
8. Trevor Noah
He speaks nine languages, he’s well-informed on current affairs, he’s adorably goofy, and he’s not afraid to speak his mind. But best of all, he doesn’t hesitate to defend millennials, who are often dubbed as “lazy” and “entitled.” That alone would earn him the support of millions of young people.
He once explained: “A lot of the perceptions of millennials don’t take into account the frustration of a generation that feels like it has inherited many of the ills of the previous ones. Gen X-ers and baby boomers experienced the booms of economy and housing. They had their tough times, but it’s the millennials who’ve gone through the recession and are dealing with college debt spiraling out of control.”
9. Tina Fey
We know for a fact that Tina Fey would have people in the White House laughing their butts off on the daily, but there’s more to her than her sense of humor. She is also a philanthropist who contributed to several causes, proving that she really wants to make a difference. She’s a supporter of Autism Speaks (an organization dedicated to autism research), as well as Mercy Corps (which empowers people to recover from crises) and their campaign to end world hunger. She has also shown support for Love Our Children USA, which fights against child abuse and bullying.
Aside from her charity work, we can also say that she has a bit of political experience because of her hilarious portrayal of Sarah Palin. At least she understands what not to do if she’s ever elected.
10. Stephen Colbert
Did you know that Stephen Colbert tried to run for president once? He initially planned to run as a Republican but changed his mind because of the $35,000 fee to file for the South Carolina primary. However, even when he tried to change gears and join the Democratic ballot, he was shot down by the South Carolina Democratic Party executive council. Why? Well because apparently, he “wasn’t a serious candidate.”
We’re still heartbroken over his short-lived campaign to this day, but the fact that we still get to see him as a host on The Late Show offers some comfort. The White House seriously missed out because Stephen is brilliant, passionate about politics, witty, and always prepared to bring his “truthiness” to every situation.
11. Sandra Bullock
Sandra Bullock is just so lovable – both on screen and off. Aside from playing literally the best characters in films, she has also been very involved in charity work. She has donated to the American Red Cross multiple times and offered funds for disaster relief efforts. The fact that she’s so determined to help the less fortunate and make this world a better place is admirable. And with her level of generosity, she could truly make this country great.
12. Kanye West
Everyone basically lost it when Kanye announced his decision to run for president in 2020. But the more we think about it, the more it actually makes sense. He’s already a successful rapper, fashion designer, and entrepreneur. Plus, he founded the Kanye West Foundation in order to combat the dropout and illiteracy rates in schools, which goes to show that he really does want to have a positive impact.
Regarding his shocking announcement to run, he explained: “When I talk about the idea of being president, I’m not saying I have any political views. I just have a view on humanity, on people, on the truth. We’re numb to 500 kids getting killed in Chicago a year, we’re numb to the fact that it was seven police shootings in the beginning of July,” he continued. ”If there is anything that I can do with my time and my day, to somehow make a difference while I’m alive I’m going to try to do it.”
13. James Corden
The English comedian actually sent Trump 297 copies of the film Philadelphia to educate him about HIV and AIDS. James Corden did it after hearing that almost half of the members of Trump’s advisory council on HIV/AIDS quit their posts (due to Trump not showing any interest in the cause). And in addition to that, he boldly criticized the president for banning trans people from serving in the military in the classiest possible way – in song.
After watching his clever spin on Nat King Cole‘s “L-O-V-E,” we couldn’t help but daydream about what it would be like if he were in Trump’s shoes instead. We need him in the White House to make smart decisions and, of course, to deliver his speeches in song (we can dream.)
14. Leonardo DiCaprio
He’s got stellar acting skills, good looks, and charm. But what we find truly impressive is that he started the Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation, a non-profit organization that promotes environmental awareness, when he was just 24 years old. From a pretty young age, he was already aware of the growing threat that is global warming and he decided to do something about it, which already puts him way ahead of our current president.
In addition to staying involved with environmental organizations, he has donated to disaster relief efforts and an organization known a GLAAD, which promotes more accurate and inclusive representations of the LGBTQ community in the media. There’s no doubt that this guy would make a phenomenal leader.
15. Yara Shahidi
We all know her as the sassy Zoey Johnson from Black-ish, but if you follow her on social media, you’ll see that she’s also a proponent of change. We love that she doesn’t hesitate to speak up and offer her two cents when it comes to Trump’s absurd policies. And as a young girl who happens to be half black and half Muslim, we get the feeling that many Americans would to relate to her own story and share in her mission to combat racism and xenophobia.
In response to Trump’s ban on Muslims, she said: “I am the result of love. More specifically, black and Iranian love. Of Shia love, of Christian love, of American love, of a love that highlights how interconnected we truly are. If my Baba was stuck in an airport because of a Muslim ban 39 years ago, he would have never fallen in love with my mama. I would not exist and I wouldn’t have two amazing brothers.”
16. Amandla Stenberg
Well, what would be more refreshing than a young pansexual who also happens to be an intersectional feminist? The actress has boldly shared her political views in the past, discussing things like racism, gender inequality, and cultural appropriation. And in addition to supporting equality, Amandla Stenberg has also been advocating for the No Kid Hungry campaign since she was just 13 years old. She might be young, but she already has more intelligence and leadership skills than our current president does. If she ever runs, she’ll have our vote!
17. Miley Cyrus
Where do we even begin with Miley Cyrus? The former Disney Channel star has been giving back throughout her entire career, from visiting sick fans in the hospital to releasing charity singles and donating funds to several causes. She has supported Youth Service America, the Elton John AIDS Foundation, Habitat for Humanity, and United Service Organizations, just to name a few. And during the most recent presidential election, she proudly campaigned for Bernie Sanders and Hillary Clinton, proving that she is well aware of the political issues and eager to make a difference. She’d definitely make a better leader than Trump, though she’d need a political advisor to school her on a few things. Cultural appropriation is one of them. Also Liam Hemsworth as the First Husband? That’d be fun.
18. Angelina Jolie
If you really think about it, Angelina Jolie would make an amazing president. With her top-notch acting skills, she could nail every single speech and public appearance with perfect ease. And let’s not forget about her humanitarian efforts, which has earned her tons of recognition and awards.
While explaining her decision to join the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, she said: “We cannot close ourselves off to information and ignore the fact that millions of people are out there suffering. I honestly want to help. I don’t believe I feel differently from other people. I think we all want justice and equality, a chance for a life with meaning.” Spoken like a true leader.
19. Dwayne Johnson
How awesome would it be to have a professional wrestler as the president? Like, The Rock is not someone that people would want to mess with. But aside from that, he knows just when to work that charming smile of his, and it also helps that he has done a bit of charity work and gotten involved in politics. In 2000, he participated in WWE’s “Smackdown Your Vote” campaign, which aimed to encourage more youth to vote. And in 2006, he started the Dwayne Johnson Rock Foundation, a charity that aims to help under-served and at-risk kids who suffer from medical disabilities, disorders, and illnesses.
20. Laverne Cox
The transgender actress has always been an avid LGBTQ+ advocate. So it’s no surprise that she spoke up when the president announced his ridiculous anti-transgender military policy. On Twitter, she posted: “My fellow trans Americans despite what some may say your existence is valuable. Your lives, safety, & service matter.”
As president, Laverne would literally be a beacon of hope for everyone, and it’s safe to say that she would do everything in her power to fight for the LGBTQ+ community and people of color — making sure their voices are heard.