20 TV and film presidents we’d totally vote for in a heartbeat

Hear us out. In an alternate universe, we could totally see Tony Goldwyn's Fitzgerald Thomas Grant III being a stand-up guy with quite the moral compass. And could you imagine the fashion if Olivia Pope were our First Lady? 

Mellie Grant always aspired to become President of the United States in Scandal. She had the drive, grit, and courage to make things happen, whether with her husband, his mistress, or her competition. During a Season 2 episode, she made her plans about becoming next in charge crystal clear. "I have a bright, bright political future," she said. "A sweet lawyer who gave up her career for her husband suffered a miscarriage and then had a late-in-life baby while First Lady. That's gold. That's a future president. That's a hell of a second act. America loves a second act."

David Palmer in the television series 24 is as straightforward as it gets. He was honest to a fault, challenging when needed, and a dynamic leader who thrived under pressure. 

Since we're speaking about fictional presidents, Beyoncé threw her hat in the ring in a Verizon commercial during this year's Super Bowl. "I'm running for Beyoncé of the United States," she declared. You already know you've gotta sign me up. 

Meryl Streep always gets her characters right, and the same was true for her performance in the 2021 film Don't Look Up. Perhaps a bit controversial, but her character was meant to be a hybrid of past leaders, including Bush, Clinton, Obama, and Trump. 

Harrison Ford plays a determined leader in the late '90s film Air Force One. He fought until the very end to keep his family and loved ones safe after they were held hostage by hijackers on his plane. 

Morgan Freeman did a great job portraying President Tom Beck in the late '90s film Deep Impact. The actor's character was a true leader, the voice of reason, and could give quite the speech. He was also calm and reassuring during high-pressure situations and always stuck to the facts.  

Okay, this may be an unpopular opinion, but we loved Claire Underwood as POTUS in the Netflix series House of Cards. She spent the entirety of her marriage navigating her husband's complicated relationships, only to leave him in the middle of the series to begin her reign as commander-in-chief. 

He may have had his share of problems, but what president doesn't? The West Wing's Jed Bartlet is characterized by his sharp intellect and fierce loyalty to those he cared about. Sure, he could be a little hot-tempered, but ultimately, he always tried to do what was right. 

Stick with us since it's all make-believe. We could look past Frank Underwood's sins during his run as president in House of Cards. After all, his purpose was to leave behind a positive legacy.

Any time Jamie Foxx is up for president, you'll know where our vote is going. Plus, his character James Sawyer in the 2013 film White House Down is a great negotiator, skilled with firearms, and has excellent hand-to-hand combat ability. He sounds equipped to us!

Elias Martinez (Blair Underwood) would get our vote because he was a candidate who actually led with integrity. After learning that his administration was hiding damaging secrets from him, his actions further showcased that. 

We love Andrew Shepard from The American President for all the right reasons. He's charismatic, determined, and very secure. 

Geena Davis started as Vice President in the TV series Commander In Chief but eventually became POTUS later in the show. Her character was quite popular, and as the first female president (in the show), she had a significant impact on the society around her. 

She may have been suddenly thrown into the role of President of the United States on Quantico, but Claire Haas didn't let that shake her as the leader of the free world. She proved she could thrive under pressure, make difficult decisions, and get things done when it mattered most. 

President Olivia Marsdin was no fool during her reign as leader in the 2015 series Supergirl. She was seen as quite intelligent and calculating, especially for waiting an unknown number of years before unleashing the Alien Amnesty Act on Earth. 

Even if this series only lasted for a season, Constance Payton made her mark during the NBC series State of Affairs. She was dedicated and passionate about her role as POTUS — qualities we love to see. 

Sally Langston was a passionate American on the ABC series Scandal. She had a talk show where she called her viewers "Lovers of Liberty" and delivered her daily "Liberty Report." She also cared deeply about ethics and morals and always tried to do the right thing, even when it was hard. 

There's nobody more prepared to take on the role of president than Elizabeth McCord from Madam Secretary. Before she claimed her desk in the Oval Office, she spent years as a CIA analyst and professor of political science at the University of Virginia.  

Like others on this list, Natalie Maccabee started as Vice President of the United States before becoming the boss. In the TNT series Agent X, she stepped up to get the job done when her partner was shot and struggling to stay alive.