Today on the Guy Benson Show, guest host Todd Piro was joined by Knoxville Mayor and WWE hall-of-fame wrester Glenn Jacobs (a.k.a. Kane). Jacobs and Piro discussed his journey from the wrestling ring into the lions den of politics. Jacobs discussed his story and why he thinks that America is much better off and feels more hopeful under President Trump. Jacobs also detailed his experience at Trump’s inauguration and showed his support for Tennessee Senator Marsha Blackburn in a potential bid for Tennessee governor. Listen to the full interview below!
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Read the full (automated) interview below:
Todd Piro: His name is Glenn Thomas Jacobs. A pretty, pretty American name, right? Well, you may know by a different name. If you are one of my fraternity brothers from the late 90s, early 2000s, they are Dartmouth College, New Hampshire. You know him as WWE Hall of Famer Kane. He’s also the mayor of Knox County. Since the year 2018. Mr. Jacobs Excuse me. Mayor Jacobs, great to have you on The Guy Benson Show. How are you, sir?
Glenn Jacobs (aka Kane): I’m doing great. Thanks for having me, Todd.
Todd Piro: You’re seven feet tall, is that correct?
Glenn Jacobs (aka Kane): Well, I’m actually about six eight in wrestling boots. I was a little taller, but I’m pretty tall, dude.
Todd Piro: There you go. Nonetheless. Yeah. Six, eight, seven. I mean, we’re. We’re picking nits here. But, you know, I’ve seen you a lot on the channel recently. Haven’t had an opportunity to interview you on my program on the TV, so we’ll do it here on radio. And you have an absolutely fascinating story because, again, I’m not going to sit here and be a poser and say I’m a big WWF, WWE guy, although I do live right down the street from the headquarters in Stamford, Connecticut. But but I did, you know, grow up at a time, especially in my fraternity days, where my brothers used to gather around the TV. I mean, these are Ivy League educated cats, right? And they would sit there and they would watch you. They would watch Stone cold. They would watch all these guys and get into it. It shaped a generation. And now you’re trying to shape a generation as a politician. So how did you make that transition?
Glenn Jacobs (aka Kane): First, you went to Dartmouth, right? Yes, sir, I heard. Yeah. Yeah. My niece actually went to Dartmouth for medical school. She’s not orthopedic surgeon, so she’s really smart. I like to say it’s a good it’s a good school. But yes, for me, the reason I got to politics, it wasn’t like a particular issue or anything like that. I had a fantastic life, great product, The American Dream. I grew up on a small farm in Missouri. My family is great. My mom and dad are hardworking folks, but we didn’t have a whole lot. We weren’t poor. And of course, that’s something to eat and a roof over our head. But nevertheless, that was about it. And from there, I mean, I was able to find something I was good at. Professional wrestling, of all things. Travel the world or fame. People provide a life for my family that I wouldn’t have thought possible. And I think that story is only possible in America. And all too often we take that for granted. I mean, I’ve traveled the world. I’ve seen other places. To me, this is far and above a superior place to live. You know, it’s the legacy in our country of, you know, just freedom and justice for all. That’s a real thing for us. Right. And I just wanted to do what I could to ensure that that go on for my grandkids and my kids. Like President Reagan said, the freedoms never more than a generation away from extinction. And I think that more people and a lot of people are standing up for more people need to stand up and ensure that we’re not the generation allows that to happen.
Todd Piro: You mentioned Reagan. We’re in the era of Trump, and I’m looking at your story. All individuals who didn’t start out as politicians, they came from something else. And in many respects, all three of you came from the entertainment business to varying degrees. But the focus really isn’t on entertainment. It is bringing something else to the table other than the, let’s call it institutional knowledge or institutional bureaucracy of government. Why do you think that has made you successful? Why do you think it made Reagan successful and why do you think it makes Trump successful?
Glenn Jacobs (aka Kane): Well, it is that different perspective and you can absolutely see it in this Trump administration. These first five days have been truly remarkable. They’ve almost been transformational for our country, and it’s been done in a very businesslike way. I mean, I think this time Trump learned from his first term while he was being literally persecuted as a private citizen. I learned from that. And he and his team came in with a game plan this time. And they often hear about presidents in the first hundred days and how important it is and all that stuff. Well, they take it to heart. And I mean, they have just done things that, you know, you wouldn’t have never thought possible before. But it was all strategy and all planning, which is something that you learn in business.
Todd Piro: You mentioned kids and grandkids. Do you think that years from now when history books are written that literally this week will be written about in history books where probably not my kids, my kids are young, but I think, you know, the books are already written. Do you think their kids, my grandkids will read about this week? January of 2025 as the day that America changed.
Glenn Jacobs (aka Kane): For.
Todd Piro: The weak and changed.
Glenn Jacobs (aka Kane): Man it should be. I don’t think there’s any doubt about that. I just, you know, everything from tackling the border and immigration crisis to strengthening American sovereignty, to righting injustices, all these different things that have been done in a way. And it just keeps on getting better. I mean, transparency. You know, how many years have people been begging for the JFK files to be declassified? And it doesn’t happen for decades. And then in the Trump administration, second Trump ministration three days and bam, there it is. And, you know, people think, well, that’s no big deal. It’s a huge deal. You know, it’s a huge deal because government classifies so many documents and, you know, so many of them shouldn’t be classified. It causes a lack of transparency. And that’s been addressed. And right now, it’s kind of a symbolic way. But I think going forward, it it’ll be even more more in that vein. So absolutely, I think. Yeah, it’s going to change the country and I really think that it’s going to get the country back on the right track. When so many of us were very concerned that we were about to go off the rails.
Todd Piro: We’ve addressed the policy of this week, but you are also there attended Trump’s inauguration in D.C.. You know, human to human. What was that like?
Glenn Jacobs (aka Kane): Yeah. There was so much excitement. So many people that had supported the president in many cases from the beginning. And, you know, part of the reason I think that the elitist left hates Trump so badly is because, you know, I consider myself I’m just an average person, man. You know, I was fortunate enough and very blessed to have a great career and do some really cool stuff. But in the end, you know, I’m just a dude. I’m just a guy. And that’s what Trump is, you know? And I think that’s part of the reason that the elites just despise him is because when they look at him, they see us, they see flyover country. You know, he’s not one of those like, rich dudes that that puts on airs or anything like that. You know, he’s just himself. And that gives him, you know, in wrestling and in politics the ability to connect with people. It’s intangible and you can’t teach it, but it’s one of the most important things. In fact, I would argue it is the most important thing for success in both areas. And it’s just something that some folks have and some folks don’t. Trump’s got it and he’s got it in spades. And again, I think that’s why, you know, people keep higher ups in the in the Democrat Party have been trying to figure that out. And they can’t and they never will. But that’s why people understand what that’s why they loved him so much.
Todd Piro: I think you touched upon something really, really interesting. And it’s a general topic that we address a lot, this elites versus non elites. And I think we look at and say, elites look down upon, not elites. But I think you looked at it from a different perspective and that’s important. Elitist, almost celebrate the fact that they’re not regular dudes. And that does two things. It’s almost like a self-fulfilling prophecy. They can never let themselves be around or be comfortable with that concept of just being a dude. And they have to continuously sort of always one up or two up or three up you whether it’s in terms of of knowledge policy or just their approach to the world and what Donald Trump does. We mentioned it earlier in the show, Common sense. It’s all about common sense. Don’t overthink things. You know, there are criminals that are illegally in our country. So what does Trump do? Gets rid of this. We have oil underneath our feet. So what does Trump do? Drills for it. And these are just two examples, but it drives the elites crazy that regular people are succeeding and regular people are voting for this because it almost shatters their view of the world, which I don’t know. I’m not an elite. Glenn, I don’t understand your thoughts.
Glenn Jacobs (aka Kane): Yeah, Yeah. Well, whatever percent agree, I’m not an elite either. But I think a lot of it is just that. Wanting to run everybody’s lives and believing that you are smarter in that kind of paternalistic attitude that you know better and, you know, you’re literally have been put in a position, you know, anointed by God to tell everybody else what to do. And, you know, my my political political philosophy is basically to maximize individual freedom. The people know how to run their lives better than some bureaucrat in Washington, D.C. does. Right. When it comes to the education of our kids, you know, they know better how to what their kids need than some faceless drone at the Department of Education in Washington, D.C.. And, you know, a lot of this obviously goes I think goes back to the progressive era. You know, and experts and technocrats should be running everything that’s not that’s not America. That’s completely un-American. And if nothing else, what has happened this week with with Trump and everything he’s done so far is really a lot of that. And that attitude has been overturned. You know, obviously, you know, sometimes it feels like we’re in a movie and these folks are just going to sit back on the heels of it all happen. At some point, they’ll come back out swinging. But, man, it feels good right now that I mean, seriously, we all keep on saying it, but it feels like America is back in a big way.
Todd Piro: Let’s switch before we let you go from America to specifically the great state of Tennessee. Senator Marsha Blackburn appears to be the clear frontrunner for Tennessee governor, That according to a Trump pollster. You’re the state mayor of Knox County there, which is where Knoxville is located. If my Wikipedia search, I just did while doing the radio hit with you is correct. You agree with that? Is Blackburn. Is this Blackburn’s gubernatorial seat if she wants it?
Glenn Jacobs (aka Kane): Yes. If Senator Blackburn wants to run for governor, I’ll certainly support for and I think that she would be definitely considered the front runner right now. And she’s done great. And she was in the state Senate then with the Congress and obviously is now a U.S. senator, but has done very well at all those levels, represents Tennessee and the people of Tennessee and Tennessee values very well. So I think she’d make a great governor.
Todd Piro: How long are the terms there?
Glenn Jacobs (aka Kane): Four years. And why? Said the term limited, say up to four year terms.
Todd Piro: Okay. So follow me where I’m going here. If memory serves, there have been other WWF, WWE individuals who’ve gone on to the governor’s mansion in their respective state. Is that on the table for Cain? And eight plus years?
Glenn Jacobs (aka Kane): Yeah. You know, I’m not exactly sure. I have two years left as mayor. A little less than that, actually. And I’m term limited as well. You know, for me, it’s not looking at what political office I want to run for next. It’s really just about trying to make a positive difference for the people that I love. And hopefully that radiates out to everybody else as well. So I’m not exactly sure, you know, and I’m not worried about it either. I mean, for whatever reason, you know, God always seems to put me in different places that, you know, that I feel rewarded and I feel that I belong. And I’m sure that’s what’s going to happen in the future. So, you know, it’s one of those things whatever comes, comes, and I’m going to be okay with that.
Todd Piro: Got it. You are listening to Glenn Thomas Jacobs. He’s the mayor of Knox County, Tennessee, since 2018 and came to all those boys that I hung out with when I was in the fraternity watching WWE. This is awesome. Thank you so much for making the time curious and excited to see what the next step in your career is. But I think we’re all excited to see what Donald Trump does in the next four years. Appreciate your time. Have a great weekend.
Glenn Jacobs (aka Kane): Thanks to you, too. I appreciate it.
Jacobs, who is known for his conservative views, has been a vocal supporter of Blackburn in the past and has praised her work in the Senate. If Blackburn does decide to run for Governor, she would likely have strong support from the conservative base in Tennessee, including Jacobs.
Blackburn has not yet announced her intentions to run for Governor, but speculation has been swirling in political circles. If she does decide to throw her hat in the ring, it seems she would have the backing of influential figures like Glenn Jacobs.
Stay tuned for more updates on this developing story.
Tags:
Glenn Jacobs, Knoxville Mayor, WWE Hall-of-Famer, Sen. Blackburn, TN Governor, support, endorsement, political news, Tennessee politics
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