Dwayne Johnson shocked the public in 2011 when he tweeted that Osama bin Laden had been killed before President Barack Obama addressed the nation. The news of the al-Qaeda founder’s death sent shockwaves across the United States and the world. Johnson, a household name for his wrestling and acting career, became an unexpected figure in breaking one of the decade’s most significant news stories.
The actor revealed details about how he learned the information during a recent appearance on The Hollywood Reporter’s Awards Chatter podcast. Johnson explained that he received a confidential tip from a “friend of a friend,” which alerted him to the operation’s success. With Obama scheduled to speak in a short time, Johnson reacted on social media, setting off a wave of reactions before the president made the official announcement.
Dwayne Johnson reveals how he learned bin Laden was dead
Dwayne Johnson recounted the moment, saying, "I’ve got a friend of a friend who gave me a call. The call was like, 'Hey, this thing happened.' And I said, 'Okay, wonderful news.' I was told on the call that the president at that time [Barack Obama] was going to make his speech in 20 minutes or whatever. I said, 'Okay, great.' So 20 minutes go by, and at about the 25th minute, I tweet this. Then I get a second call, and the call is, 'Yeah, the president didn’t go on yet.' And I went, 'Oh s---.'"
The tweet read: "Just got word that will shock the world – Land of the free…home of the brave DAMN PROUD TO BE AN AMERICAN!"
This post appeared minutes before Obama’s televised address, where the president confirmed the targeted operation in Abbottabad, Pakistan, had successfully killed bin Laden. Johnson later maintained that he deliberately avoided revealing too many details in the tweet, keeping it patriotic without disclosing the sensitive information.
Johnson keeps his source secret and hints at future political ambitions
Over the years, Johnson has remained coy about his confidential source. Speaking to Moviefone in 2012, he joked, "If I tell you that, I won't have to ‘kill’ you, but I'll have to behead you — no, I got my sources." He explained that he has connections “in high places and low places” and described the day as “very interesting,” emphasizing the pride of those who informed him.
The Rock also touched on his political aspirations during the podcast but declined to confirm any future plans. While speculation continues about a potential presidential bid, Johnson keeps the focus on his entertainment and personal achievements, including his acclaimed role in The Smashing Machine , for which he’s already in the Oscar buzz.
Also Read: Liv Morgan gives major update on her WWE comeback following injury setback
The actor revealed details about how he learned the information during a recent appearance on The Hollywood Reporter’s Awards Chatter podcast. Johnson explained that he received a confidential tip from a “friend of a friend,” which alerted him to the operation’s success. With Obama scheduled to speak in a short time, Johnson reacted on social media, setting off a wave of reactions before the president made the official announcement.
Dwayne Johnson reveals how he learned bin Laden was dead
Dwayne Johnson recounted the moment, saying, "I’ve got a friend of a friend who gave me a call. The call was like, 'Hey, this thing happened.' And I said, 'Okay, wonderful news.' I was told on the call that the president at that time [Barack Obama] was going to make his speech in 20 minutes or whatever. I said, 'Okay, great.' So 20 minutes go by, and at about the 25th minute, I tweet this. Then I get a second call, and the call is, 'Yeah, the president didn’t go on yet.' And I went, 'Oh s---.'"
The tweet read: "Just got word that will shock the world – Land of the free…home of the brave DAMN PROUD TO BE AN AMERICAN!"
Just got word that will shock the world - Land of the free...home of the brave DAMN PROUD TO BE AN AMERICAN!
— Dwayne Johnson (@TheRock) May 2, 2011
This post appeared minutes before Obama’s televised address, where the president confirmed the targeted operation in Abbottabad, Pakistan, had successfully killed bin Laden. Johnson later maintained that he deliberately avoided revealing too many details in the tweet, keeping it patriotic without disclosing the sensitive information.
Johnson keeps his source secret and hints at future political ambitions
Over the years, Johnson has remained coy about his confidential source. Speaking to Moviefone in 2012, he joked, "If I tell you that, I won't have to ‘kill’ you, but I'll have to behead you — no, I got my sources." He explained that he has connections “in high places and low places” and described the day as “very interesting,” emphasizing the pride of those who informed him.
The Rock also touched on his political aspirations during the podcast but declined to confirm any future plans. While speculation continues about a potential presidential bid, Johnson keeps the focus on his entertainment and personal achievements, including his acclaimed role in The Smashing Machine , for which he’s already in the Oscar buzz.
Also Read: Liv Morgan gives major update on her WWE comeback following injury setback
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