WASHINGTON — When Arnold Schwarzenegger speaks about American politics, he does so from an unusual position: a Republican former governor, an immigrant, and a global celebrity whose career has spanned entertainment and public service. In recent days, remarks he has made criticizing Donald Trump — and highlighting what he described as contradictions in Mr. Trump’s rhetoric on immigration — have again drawn national attention.

The comments, which circulated widely online, revisited a line of criticism Mr. Schwarzenegger has voiced before: that Mr. Trump’s hard-line immigration policies and language sit uneasily alongside his own family history. Mr. Trump’s wife, Melania Trump, is an immigrant who became a U.S. citizen after arriving from Slovenia in the 1990s.

Mr. Schwarzenegger, who immigrated to the United States from Austria as a young man, has repeatedly framed immigration as central to his understanding of the American promise. In speeches and recorded messages, he has asked how political leaders can condemn immigrant families while benefiting personally from the same system that allowed their own families to settle in the country.

Although the remarks were not made during a single formal address, they drew renewed attention because of their blunt tone and because they came from a figure long associated with the Republican Party. Mr. Schwarzenegger served two terms as governor of California from 2003 to 2011 and has often described himself as fiscally conservative but socially inclusive.

His criticism of Mr. Trump is not new. In January 2021, following the attack on the U.S. Capitol, Mr. Schwarzenegger released a widely viewed video in which he called the violence a betrayal of democratic principles and compared the moment to dark episodes from European history. In that video, he spoke movingly about his father, a veteran of World War II who had been affiliated with the Nazi Party, and warned about the dangers of political lies and demagoguery.

That message resurfaced in recent days as commentators and comedians replayed earlier footage and statements, framing them as a pointed challenge to Mr. Trump’s self-styled image as a strong leader. Mr. Schwarzenegger has described Mr. Trump as a failed leader and accused him of undermining democratic norms — language that remains striking coming from a prominent Republican.

Mr. Trump, for his part, has long responded to Mr. Schwarzenegger with personal attacks, often mocking his tenure as host of The Apprentice and criticizing television ratings. During a 2017 appearance at the National Prayer Breakfast, Mr. Trump publicly disparaged Mr. Schwarzenegger’s performance on the show, prompting a quick and sarcastic video reply from the former governor suggesting they “switch jobs.”

The exchange became emblematic of the broader clash between the two men: one emphasizing institutional stability and democratic values, the other favoring confrontation and personal grievance.

Late-night television and popular culture have amplified the contrast. Comedians such as Jimmy Kimmel and Jamie Foxx have used Mr. Schwarzenegger’s comments as material for satire, portraying them as puncturing Mr. Trump’s carefully constructed image. Clips and memes spread rapidly across social media, where they were embraced by critics of the former president and condemned by his supporters.

Mr. Trump’s allies have dismissed the criticism as opportunistic and disrespectful, arguing that comparisons to authoritarian movements are exaggerated and inflammatory. Supporters also note that immigration policy debates are complex and that Mr. Trump’s positions reflect concerns about border security and enforcement, not hostility toward immigrants as individuals.

Still, the episode has reopened a larger conversation about the identity of the Republican Party and the role of dissent within it. Mr. Schwarzenegger represents a strand of Republican politics rooted in the Cold War era — one that emphasized alliances, democratic norms and rhetorical restraint. His willingness to publicly challenge Mr. Trump has made him a rare figure within a party that, by and large, continues to support the former president.

For Mr. Schwarzenegger, the criticism appears less about personal rivalry than about warning signs he believes he recognizes from history. In his own telling, growing up in postwar Austria shaped his sensitivity to political movements driven by grievance and misinformation.

Whether his message resonates beyond those already inclined to agree remains uncertain. But the renewed attention underscores how cultural figures — particularly those with bipartisan credibility — can still disrupt political narratives.

What began as a sharp critique of immigration hypocrisy has evolved into something broader: a reminder that the battle over Mr. Trump’s legacy is being fought not only in courtrooms and campaigns, but also in memory, culture and the definition of leadership itself.