Arnold Schwarzenegger says he ‘owes everything to America’ while celebrating 40 years of citizenship

Arnold Schwarzenegger has shared a collection of throwback pictures to celebrate 40 years of U.S. citizenship.

The actor and former governor of California marked the momentous milestone by sharing a heart-felt Instagram post, where he mentioned his roots in Austria and the moment he became an American citizen in 1983.

“On this day 40 years ago, I became an American citizen. It is one of the proudest days of my life. I owe everything to America. Born in Austria, made in America!” he wrote on Instagram.

The 76-year-old shared photos documented his life before and after he came to America, including pictures of him taking the oath of U.S. citizenship in 1983, wearing a shirt with the American flag on it and an Uncle Sam hat while holding two American flag and striking a pose in front of the Hollywood sign.

The Instagram post also has audio from the speech Schwarzenegger delivered at the Republican National Convention in New York City in 2004.

“My fellow Americans, this an amazing moment for me. To think a once-scrawny boy from Austria could grow up to become governor of the state of California, that is an immigrant’s dream,” the Terminator star can be heard saying in the clip.

He added: “In school when the teacher would talk about America, I would daydream about coming here. I would daydream about living here.”

The seven-time Mr. Olympia bodybuilding champion continued: “As long as I live, I will never forget the day when I raised my hand for the oath of citizenship. You know how proud I was? I was so proud that I walked around with the American flag wrapped around my shoulder all day long.

“I finally arrived here in 1968. What a special day it was. I remembered I arrived here with empty pockets but full of dreams, full of determination and full of desire,” the star said. “Everything about America seemed so big to me, so open, so possible.

“To my fellow immigrants listening tonight, I want you to know how welcomed you are. We encourage your dreams. We believe in your future.”

The Total Recall star was married to broadcast journalist Maria Shriver for 25 years before they divorced in 2021. Together they have four children: daughters Katherine, 33, and Christina, 31, and sons Patrick, 29, and Christopher, 25. Schwarzenegger is also father to Joseph Baena, his son with his former nanny, Mildred Patricia Baena.