Few candidates in political history have benefited from the internet more than Donald Trump. Not only was the 45th and 47th President an early adopter of Twitter, but he even created a knockoff version of the site called Truth Social so that he could monetize his tweets.
Trump’s prowess with social media helps him connect with not only his older and middle-aged voters but younger male voters as well. One of his biggest connections to young men on the internet is Joe Rogan. But Rogan, who is typically kind to Trump, is not happy about the raids ICE is conducting under the president’s command.
Rogan Said That The Raids Are Not What Anyone Signed Up For
Rogan put the president on blast last week, pointing out that so many of the workers who are getting caught up in the raids are not dangerous criminals but are working people. Rogan continued by saying that it was insane that the administration was rounding up gardeners and people working on construction sites.
Here, Rogan was pointing out that Trump’s promise was to only go after gang members and criminals. The podcaster has similar comments about the ICE raids and their lack of focus on only gang members. Rogan urged the country not to let the hairdressers get caught up in the sweeps along with the gang members.
The Podcaster Was Also Critical of Trump’s Foreign Policy Approach
A major campaign promise from Trump was that he would get the United States out of any foreign war. The now-president boasted that he could fix the situations in Ukraine and Gaza with only a few phone calls.
While speaking with Sanders, Rogan noted that not only has Trump not achieved these goals, but that he may have gotten the US involved in a war with Iran. According to Rogan, the move has divided the MAGA world, as many Conservatives prefer an isolationist policy.
Joe Rogan Had a Rapid Rise in the New Media
Rogan began his career as a comedian, achieving his big break in 1995 when he was cast on NBC’s hit show, NewsRadio. Rogan then moved to gigs like hosting Fear Factor, also on NBC.
Rogan also stayed in the public eye by announcing for the Ultimate Fighting Championship.
Rogan’s political views have evolved in a way that defies simple left-right categorization. Early in his podcasting career, he expressed support for progressive candidates like Bernie Sanders, appreciating their anti-establishment messages and focus on economic inequality.
However, as his platform grew, Rogan’s perspectives increasingly reflected libertarian and individualist leanings, emphasizing personal freedom, skepticism of government authority, and contrarian views on a variety of topics.
Is Trump Losing His Touch With Young Men?
One of the major reasons Trump was able to win in 2024 was that he did much better with young male voters than Republicans typically do. A lot of the young men who voted for Trump in 2024 are also fans of Rogan’s podcast. However, recent polling shows that Trump’s approval rating with those same men who propelled him into the White House is fading. While it is yet premature to conclude, it is important to note that issues such as foreign policy, tariffs, economic anxiety, inflation and immigration are the reasons for this recent development.
Rogan Was a Significant Supporter of Bernie Sanders
Early in his days as an important podcaster, Joe Rogan promoted the most progressive of candidates. That meant that his first endorsements were staunchly in the corner of Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders. While Sanders is technically in office as an independent, his ideological leanings are to the left of most Democrats.
Rogan used his platform early on to back Sanders. After Sanders was beaten out by Joe Biden, Rogan went in another direction by voting for Jo Jorgenson. But from 2020 onward, Rogan has frequently trumpeted right-leaning candidates.
The Podcaster is Close with Elon Musk
Joe Rogan has a strong friendship with another person who is currently having his own issues with Donald Trump: Elon Musk. Rogan has long been a fan of Musk and frequently has him on his show as a guest. The host says that he and the billionaire get along because they are both anti-establishment figures.
After working with Trump in the early days of his presidency, Musk has become a huge critic of the president, going as far as talking about creating his own political party. Many fans of Musk are also fans of Rogan, and those people may be souring on Trump.
At Least One Celebrity Isn’t Buying Rogan’s About Face
Mark Ruffalo, who plays the Hulk in the Avengers movies, has long been a staunch supporter of Democrats and progressive causes. Ruffalo has also taken issue with Rogan taking the opportunity to speak out about Trump now.
According to Ruffalo, this is something that Rogan should have thought about when he endorsed the president, as mass deportations have always been a part of his plan upon returning to the White House. According to the Hollywood star, Rogan is either being stupid or intentionally naive when it comes to the president.
There Are Many Different People Under the MAGA Umbrella
One thing that Republicans are encountering is the fact that their voters are not a monolith. While two people may be supporters of Donald Trump, they could have completely opposing views on certain issues.
Trump will need to thread the needle to keep both of these groups happy as he can’t afford to lose much support in 2026. While Republicans currently hold the House and Senate, their margins are slim. If either or both flip to Democrats, Trump is going to have a hard time pushing through legislation going forward.
Immigration Will Prove Challenging For Trump Going Forward
Conservative media has been a blessing for Republicans. The GOP has traditionally had a very hard time with younger voters. While young women are still largely liberal, Trump and the GOP have been able to siphon off many young men, and Joe Rogan’s show is a big part of this.
While Trump doesn’t need to change his policy because of something Joe Rogan says, he should be very aware of what the podcaster is saying. With an audience of millions, Rogan has the power to shape public opinion both positively and negatively.