Dwayne Johnson reveals how he knew about Osama bin Laden’s death before Obama even announced it



Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson has friends in high places.

The “Smashing Machine” actor has revealed how he knew Osama bin Laden was killed before then-President Barack Obama even announced the news to the world in May 2011.

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Johnson, 53, explained that he has “a friend of a friend” who gave him a call at the time to relay the news, although the “Black Adam” star refused to name any names.

Dwayne Johnson got a private call about Osama bin Laden’s death. Getty Images for Miu Miu
The call came before President Obama had even announced the operation. Getty Images

“The call was like, ‘Hey, this thing happened,’” Johnson said during a recent appearance on the “Awards Chatter” podcast. “And I said, ‘Okay, wonderful news.’”

“I was told on the call that the president at that time was going to make his speech in 20 minutes or whatever,” he continued. “I said, ‘Okay, great.’”

Johnson, however, jumped the gun and put out a tweet celebrating bin Laden’s death before Obama had a chance to make his public announcement.

Johnson joked that he has “friends in high places.” WireImage
Obama in the Situation Room of the White House discussing the mission against bin Laden on May 1, 2011. Getty Images

“So 20 minutes go by, and at about the 25th minute, I tweet this,” he recalled. “Then I get a second call, and the call is, ‘Yeah, the president didn’t go on yet.’ And I went, ‘Oh s–t.’”

The “Fast & Furious” star’s tweet in question was shared on the night of May 1, 2011, the same day the 9/11 terrorist mastermind was shot and killed by SEAL Team Six in Abbottabad, Pakistan.

“Just got word that will shock the world,” Johnson wrote at the time. “Land of the free…home of the brave DAMN PROUD TO BE AN AMERICAN!”

Roughly one hour after the Rock shared his tweet, Obama issued a televised address from the White House to announce that bin Laden had been killed.

“Today, at my direction, the United States launched a targeted operation against that compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan,” the then-president said. “A small team of Americans carried out the operation with extraordinary courage and capability.”

Obama announcing the killing of bin Laden on May 1, 2011. Corbis via Getty Images
Johnson and Obama together at the National Building Museum in Washington, DC, on Dec. 14, 2014. WireImage

“No Americans were harmed,” Obama added. “They took care to avoid civilian casualties. After a firefight, they killed Osama bin Laden and took custody of his body.”

Johnson, meanwhile, previously opened up about how he knew bin Laden was dead before everyone else during a chat with Moviefone in February 2012.

While he once again refused to reveal his source, the “Jumanji” star suggested it may have been someone involved in the operation.

Johnson during the 14th Annual Hamilton Behind the Camera Awards in Los Angeles, California, on Nov. 5, 2025. Variety via Getty Images

“If I tell you that, I won’t have to ‘kill’ you, but I’ll have to behead you – no, I got my sources,” he joked. “I got friends in high places and low places. It was a very interesting day. The individuals who were there were proud to let me know.”

“I knew the president was going to give his speech,” he continued. “I thought he was going to give it at a certain time, and so I thought, I think it’s appropriate that I tweet ‘I’m damn proud to be an American’ and keep it in that space without giving away too much information.”




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