On the eve of Election Day, influential podcaster Joe Rogan announced his endorsement of Donald Trump for president. This is a shift for Rogan, who previously criticised Trump’s policies and demeanour.
Rogan’s decision was made public on social media platform X, where he revealed his position while promoting a recent interview with tech billionaire Elon Musk.
Rogan wrote, “For the record, yes, that’s an endorsement of Trump,” following Musk’s persuasive argument during their podcast discussion on “The Joe Rogan Experience.” Rogan said Musk’s case for Trump was “the most compelling” he’d heard, adding, “I agree with him every step of the way.”
The endorsement came just weeks after Rogan’s high-profile October 25 interview with Trump on his popular podcast, which has amassed a following of 14.5 million on Spotify.
During the nearly three-hour interview, Trump encouraged Rogan to support his campaign, citing what he claimed were Rogan’s ideological differences with Vice President Kamala Harris. “You cannot be voting for Kamala,” Trump told Rogan. “You’re not a Kamala person. I know you.”
Rogan’s endorsement marks a significant shift. In 2022, he said he was “not a Trump supporter in any way, shape, or form.” Yet, Rogan now appears to have shifted his perspective, citing frustrations with how the media has portrayed Trump. “[The Democrats] have done such a job of painting Trump as a monster,” Rogan noted, though he acknowledged, “Trump isn’t a ‘perfect’ choice,” saying no candidate is without flaws.
Comparing Trump to Harris, Rogan voiced concerns over the lack of a Democratic primary and argued that Harris was being positioned as the party’s future leader despite low approval ratings. “To destroy democracy, we have to install a president without a primary,” Rogan remarked, referencing Harris’s unpopularity. “She’s the least liked vice president of all time,” he said, criticising the media’s portrayal of her as the “future and hope” of the Democratic Party.
On Monday night at a rally in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Trump celebrated Rogan’s support, addressing the crowd with, “I have some big news. I’m just getting this right now.” Trump highlighted the endorsement as a significant victory, especially given Rogan’s reputation as an independent thinker who doesn’t often issue political endorsements. “To me, it’s huge because he’s the biggest there is, I guess, in that world by far,” Trump said, noting Rogan’s influence on millions of listeners.
Rogan’s decision to back Trump contrasts with his previous endorsement of Bernie Sanders in 2020. Earlier this year, he voiced support for Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who has since dropped out of the race and endorsed Trump.
Rogan praised RFK Jr.’s thoughtful approach: “He doesn’t attack individuals; he critiques actions and ideas.” However, Rogan’s support for RFK Jr. was framed as a personal endorsement rather than an official political stance, a distinction that elicited mixed reactions from Trump’s supporters.
Rogan’s recent interview with Trump has already gained significant traction online, with more than 45 million views on YouTube as of late Monday, underscoring the influence of his platform.
The podcast, which regularly tops Spotify’s charts, has cultivated a large, primarily male audience who often look to Rogan’s opinions on cultural and political issues.
With Donald Trump, Elon Musk, and Megyn Kelly receiving support from Joe Rogan, this endorsement may influence independent or undecided voters on Election Day.
As one of the country’s most popular podcast hosts, Rogan’s public support for Trump could significantly impact this highly competitive race.
