Arnold Schwarzenegger and Maria Shriver have announced they have separated after 25 years of marriage.
In a shock announcement,  the couple who have four children together, released a joint statement saying they were living apart while they ‘work on the future’ of their marriage.

Shriver helped bolster Schwarzenegger’s campaign eight years ago to become California Governor.

She stood by the Terminator actor at the time amid claims he groped a string of women during his movie career.

Late on Monday night saying that Shriver, 55, is ‘moving out of their Brentwood mansion while the two determine the next step in their 25-year marriage’.

The newspaper said Shriver has actually been living apart from the actor-turned-politician for the last few weeks.

The former First Couple confirmed their separation on Monday night after questions were raised by The Times.

“This has been a time of great personal and professional transition for each of us,” the couple joint statement read.

“After a great deal of thought, reflection, discussion and prayer, we came to this decision together.

“At this time, we are living apart while we work on the future of our relationship.”

Before Schwarzenegger, 63,  became governor of California in 2003, Shriver was superstar presenter for NBC News.

Born in Chicago, Illinois, Shriver is a member of America’s famous Kennedy clan.
The daughter of Sargent Shriver and Eunice Kennedy Shriver, Maria met her estranged husband In 1977 when they were introduced by former NBC News presenter Tom Brokaw at a charity tennis tournament being held at her mother’s home.

They married on April 26, 1986 in a lavish ceremony in Hyannis, Massachusetts where the Kennedy family compound is located.

At the time, Shriver co-anchored NBC News’s Sunday Today and later became a contributing anchor on Dateline NBC in 1989.

Once her husband announced his plans to run for California’s governorship, Shriver took an unpaid leave of absence from NBC News to support her husband’s political aspirations.

Presidential nominee John McCain wants fellow nominee Barack Obama to put his campaign ads away and instead settle the election like gentlemen—by having a duel!

The bold challenge, publicly issued by McCain’s feisty Vice Presidential nominee Sarah Palin, would spare the American people from the typical smear campaigns and save millions of dollars in citizens’ donations, according to McCain.

“In this way we are protecting all the American people: Democrats, Republicans and Independents,” Palin told Associated Press Television Network in an interview.

As conceived by McCain, the duel would be held in a neutral “purple” state such as Pennsylvania, with NBC News’ Tom Brokaw as the referee. Each leader would be allowed to bring along just two “seconds” to aide him in the man-to-man confrontation.

The combatants would use one previously agreed-upon weapon, “with president against president, vice president against vice president and first lady against first lady in a duel,” Palin proposed.

So, while Obama battled McCain, Vice Presidential nominee Joe Biden would take on Palin, and Michelle Obama would rumble with Cindy McCain.

The Republicans haven’t proposed a specific weapon — pistols, swords, knives, battle axes, etc. That choice would be up to the Obama campaign.

Publicly, Obama’s team scoffed at McCain’s proposal. Campaign spokesperson Robert Gibbs said it did not warrant “a serious response.”

Behind the scenes, however, some Obama aides are toying with the idea.

“We have no doubt that Barack could take McCain — he jogs every day and is in tip-top condition,” said a campaign source.

“We are considering proposing a sword fight in which Barack’s long arms would have a significant advantage.”