Who is the ex-wrestler once floated as RFK Jr’s running mate? Meet Jesse Ventura, who claims Donald Trump ‘copied’ him and George Bush ‘knew’ about 9/11 – but will he return to WWE at age 72?

Jun 6 , 2024

Who is Jesse Ventura, the ex-WWE wrestler-turned-governor who said Donald Trump copied him? He was floated as RFK Jr’s running mate, but may now return to WWE. Photos: AP, Getty Images

If you’re a fan of WWE, you’ll know him as The Body – the outspoken 110kg (245-pound) wrestler who ditched the ring for a political career. Jesse Ventura served as governor of Minnesota from 1999 to 2003, advocating for the legalisation of marijuana, among other things.

His name resurfaced in politics this year after it was rumoured he could be Robert F. Kennedy Jr’s running mate. Although RFK Jr went for American lawyer Nicole Shanahan in the end, Ventura remains in the spotlight … and a return to WWE could be on the cards even at age 72.

Here is everything you need to know about him.

Jesse Ventura, WWE wrestler turned governor

Jesse “The Body” Ventura was a spokesman for bargain-priced Pig’s Eye Pilsner. Photo: AP

Ventura made his political entry in 1998, when he won the race of Minnesota governor. According to The Washington Post, the former “pro wrestler, navy seal and radio shock jock” beat seasoned politicians, and even became the first governor to have his own action figure doll. He renamed himself The Mind during his campaign, playing on his WWE alias of The Body.

Jesse “The Body” Ventura, a former wrestler and actor, once won the seat of Minnesota governor running as an independent. Photo: AFP

After winning, he called himself Governor Body, telling fans after his victory, “I’ll bet you they’re never going to take the people lightly again, are they?”

Fast forward around 25 years to 2024, when independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr named him as a potential running mate for the coming US elections, per ABC. Of course, RFK Jr eventually selected tech lawyer Shanahan, who also contributed millions towards campaign funding.

Ventura’s return to wrestling

Politician Jesse Ventura in 2013; RFK Jr ultimately did not pick him as a running mate. Photo: Getty Images

His political career might be over and done with, but he could have another run with the WWE. According to Wrestling Inc, the former star, who left WWE in 1990, confirmed he had been in talks with the organisation over a new contract. He said he might be brought back as a WWE Legend, admitting that, even though he’s “an old guy”, he was willing to re-enter the ring.

His own brand of THC edibles

Back in March, Ventura confirmed he would be launching his own brand of THC edibles. Per Fortune, the former governor of Minnesota launched the treats under the Jesse Ventura Farms brand, which includes gummies and cakes under the label Governor’s Select Collection, in collaboration with Retro Bakery.

In a video on the bakery’s YouTube channel, Ventura said, “I’m a huge supporter of the cannabis industry. Cannabis saved my family’s life. And now it’s time for me to return to the cannabis world.”

Last year, Ventura testified in front of the Minnesota Senate Committee about how cannabis helped his wife Terry. According to Fox9, Ventura said his wife had chronic seizures and modern medicine did nothing to help her. He went on to explain that she took three drops of medical marijuana and stopped having them. He was one of the first US governors to openly support the legalisation of the drug.

Ventura has often spoken about his wife’s experience with marijuana, saying that her medical condition helped put him at the forefront of arguing for its legalisation in Minnesota, per the same source.

What did Jesse Ventura once say about Donald Trump?

Jesse Ventura in 1998; he claims that ex-President Donald Trump took a leaf out of his book. Photo: AP

When he became governor in 1998, Ventura said he “shocked the world”. After his win, Donald Trump visited the politician to ask how he won the election, per CBS. Ventura claimed in a later interview that Trump copied his playbook and used it for his presidential campaign in 2016. “He just studied what we did, and his people watched, and they copied me to a ‘T’ when he ran in 2016,” he declared.

Jesse Ventura’s 9/11 conspiracy claims

Jesse Ventura with George W. Bush back in the day. Photo: AFP

Ventura has made headlines over the years for his comments about 9/11. He wrote a book called American Conspiracies: Lies, Lies and More Dirty Lies that the Government Tells Us, where he claimed that the US government was involved in a cover-up over the incident – a conspiracy theory that other high-profile figure have subscribed to, too. Venture wrote in his book, “The Bush Administration either knew about the plan and allowed it to proceed, or they had a hand in it themselves.”

In 2011, Ventura got into a debate with Piers Morgan about the topic, continuing to claim that the “Bush administration ignored the intelligence, it was almost like they ignored it because they wanted it to happen”.

Who are Jesse Ventura’s family members?

Jesse Ventura with his wife Terry, daughter Jade and son Tyrel. Photo: Reuters

Ventura’s son Tyrel is a film director, actor and writer. Jesse and Terry also have a daughter, Jade. They have often recounted how, when she was born, they were told that “her brain looks like Swiss cheese, she’ll probably end up dead or institutionalised”. As it turned out, the scan had been misread.

Icons and Influencers

The governor of Minnesota from 1999-2003, Ventura’s name popped up in politics again when rumours swirled that he might be Robert F. Kennedy Jr’s running mate – but it was Nicole Shanahan instead
‘Cannabis saved my family’s life,’ he once said, speaking about how it helped his wife Terry with chronic seizures – he’s also launched his own brand of THC edibles under the Jesse Ventura Farms brand