“But as proud as I am to label myself a Republican, there is one label that I hold above all else – American,” Schwarzenegger said. | Getty Schwarzenegger says he can't support Trump

Arnold Schwarzenegger, the former California governor who is due to replace Donald Trump as the host of “Celebrity Apprentice,” said on Saturday that he cannot support the billionaire reality TV star's White House bid.

“For the first time since I became a citizen in 1983, I will not vote for the Republican candidate for president,” Schwarzenegger said in a statement posted to his Twitter account.


The famous body builder and actor said he still hasn’t made his mind up about exactly how he’ll vote, but he said he knows he cannot support Trump, who he did not explicitly name.

“But as proud as I am to label myself a Republican, there is one label that I hold above all else – American,” Schwarzenegger goes on to say. “So I want to take a moment today to remind my fellow Republicans that it is not only acceptable to choose your country over your party – it is your duty.”

The statement comes as Trump is mired in the most devastating controversy of his campaign, after a 2005 tape leaked on Friday revealed the Republican nominee talking about how he can grope women because he’s “a star.”

Schwarzenegger saw his own political career almost torpedoed when the Los Angeles Times in 2003 interviewed six women in 2003 who accused the celebrity of inappropriately touching them. The article, which launched “Gropegate,” threatened to sideline Schwarzenegger’s gubernatorial bid.