Matthew McConaughey hints he won’t be running for governor of Texas

After months of speculation, Matthew McConaughey has hinted that he might sit out Texas’ upcoming gubernatorial election.

When asked about running for governor in 2022 during his chat on the New York Times‘ Sway podcast, McConaughey, 51, replied, “Is politics an embassy for me to be of the most use to myself, to my family, to the most amount of people in my life moving forward?”

“Taking sides on a political issue right now, to me, precedes the discussion of something larger and much more important,” he said, touching upon the country’s identity crisis. “Do we really want to be a United States of America?… It’s a question we got to answer.”

“Why is our nation’s trust level so low with our leaders, with ourselves, with each other?,” he remarked. “Before I start hopping in the middle of politics going, ‘Well, this is where I stand here, and this is where I stand here.’ Everybody needs to be in the conversation to answer [these] questions.”

“I do not think we’re in a good place [as a nation,]” McConaughey added, but the self-described optimist said he’s excited for the future because “we’re in a place where it’s an amazing opportunity right now.”

McConaughey also offered his opinions on hot-button issues like mask mandates, voting rights and Texas’ restrictive abortion ban. Calling it “a small investment” to wear a mask, the actor voiced support for mandates. He also declared “it should be easier to vote” for all Americans “of age” and without a “criminal record.”

He was less forthcoming about the subject of abortion, however.  Although he expressed disapproval of Texas’ abortion law, McConaughey declined to reveal his stance on the matter because, “We’ve been trying to figure out that, and how to play God with that situation, since the beginning.”