Captain America: Brave New World inaugurated the newest President of the MCU, but like his predecessors Thaddeus “Thunderbolt” Ross’s term was marked by bloodshed and chaos. Aldrich Killian tried to kill President Matthew Elli on live TV in Iron Man 3. James Ritson turned himself into a one-term president after he foolishly declared war on Skrulls after their assassination attempt in Secret Invasion. And Ross turned into a big giant red rage monster who destroyed the White House and had to resign.
Now his unseen, unnamed running mate is in the Oval Office. So who is the latest leader of the free world in the MCU? Here are five candidates we hope took the oath of office during Captain America: Brave New World along with five we hope didn’t.
Should Be President – Colonel James “Rhodey” Rhodes
One of our favorite superheroes, War Machine, is also our top choice to the MCU’s next president. Colonel James Rhodes is a brave, respected, loyal, high-ranking military commander with years of diplomatic experience. What makes him especially good for the job, though, is that his impeccable resume is only surpassed by his strong moral code. Rhodey is a noble man who cares about protecting others. (Also, he wasn’t a Skrull the whole time. We refuse to accept that nonsense.)
Should NOT Be President – Wilson Fisk
Daredevil: Born Again will introduce Wilson Fisk as mayor of New York City. Hopefully that’s the highest political office Kingpin ever attains in the MCU. The former (likely still) crime boss is a violent murderer who would try and shape both the U.S. and the world into his singular twisted image. We hope he’s not even mayor of the Big Apple by the end of the Disney+ series. The greatest city in the world deserves to be run by someone who isn’t blatantly corrupt.
Should Be President in the MCU – Pepper Potts
This might seem like an unlikely choice, but Pepper Potts would be an outstanding president in the MCU. She’s worked at the highest levels with every group you’d want a president in a world full of superheroes to be familiar with. She’s run a billion-dollar company, helped keep the Avengers organized, and she’s coordinated closely with the U.S. government. Pepper knows how to manage big egos and big responsibilities at the same time. And, vitally, she is also a really good person with the ideal temperament for the job. Pepper Potts would crush it in the White House like she crushes every task she has ever had.
Should NOT Be President – Sharon Carter
Unless we’re using Tony Stark’s time machine to go back in time to get the old Sharon Carter, we want no part of the Power Broker with the power of the U.S. government. Sharon Carter is a secret international crime syndicate tycoon with deep animosity for the country that betrayed her. The fact she’s so good at hiding who she really is now makes her even more dangerous. She has everyone convinced she’s a patriot when she actually hates America. That would be bad for both the country and the whole world.
Should Be President in the MCU – Bruce Banner
We know the last Hulk to be in the White House literally destroyed it, but Bruce Banner got his own rage issues under control long ago. Meanwhile, he’s always been a brilliant scientist, one of the smartest people in the world. And his years protecting Earth has also brought him into contact with other countries and even other planets. He’d be the Diplomat in Chief while promoting STEM at a time the world really needs to focus on it. Plus, you know, he can beat up almost anyone who would hurt his fellow citizens. That’s always cool.
Should NOT Be President – Hank Pym
Being a brilliant scientist and a superhero is not enough to earn our vote. For the same reasons Thaddeus Ross wasn’t the right person for the job, neither is hothead Hank Pym. He’s not exactly cool and calm under pressure and he doesn’t play well with others. Hank Pym would probably get America involved in a war entirely out of spite. President of the United States is a big job with big responsibilities. He better serves his country in small doses.
Should NOT Be President – Valentina Allegra de Fontaine
The current director of the CIA might be the least trustworthy person in the entire U.S. government. She works for shady, corrupt figures who want heroes like Clint Barton dead. She’s running her own secret anti-hero ring. And if all of that wasn’t bad enough, we still don’t know anything about her. She might not even be human, let alone an American citizen. No one knows who “Val” actually serves or what her ultimate goals are, but something tells us even if we did we wouldn’t want this slippery figure near the Oval Office.
Should Be President in the MCU – Everett K. Ross
Valetina Allegra de Fontaine’s ex-husband is someone we would trust with the power of the presidency. Everett K. Ross has proven himself again and again to be a capable, honorable man. The Air Force veteran spent years working at the CIA, but he risked both his career and his freedom when he thought the agency’s actions were wrong. He also has a great relationship with the actual most powerful country on Earth, Wakanda, a huge bonus for any would-be MCU president.
Should Be President – Nick Fury
Who cares more about protecting Americans and their fellow citizens of the world (human and alien alike) than Nick Fury? He’s also someone willing to act when others won’t. Plus he’ll do the right thing, even at great risk to himself, when he must. Has anyone in the MCU so consistently proven themselves to be up to the actual challenges of the world as it is (rather than as they’d like it to be) than the greatest spy on the planet? The brilliant, cunning, well-organized, Nick Fury has amazing foresight to root issues before they even happen. But when things do go wrong, while he might use questionable, even unethical methods, his actions are always in service to the ultimate good.
Should NOT Be President – Nick Fury
Okay, but no. Nick Fury can’t actually be President of the MCU’s United States for pretty obvious reasons. That includes one especially disqualifying fact: he might have been responsible for who “won” all these previous elections.
Mikey Walsh is a staff writer at Nerdist who would campaign for Pepper Potts. You can follow him on Bluesky at @burgermike. And also anywhere someone is ranking the Targaryen kings.