Trump Opens Up in a Three-Hour Interview with Joe Rogan
Republican nominee Donald Trump sits down with America’s #1 podcaster to talk about his presidency, politics, and more.
A Surprising Sit-Down
Donald Trump, the Republican presidential nominee, recently joined Joe Rogan on his popular podcast, The Joe Rogan Experience, for an extensive three-hour interview. Released this week, the conversation touched on Trump’s “biggest mistake” during his White House tenure, his candid thoughts on world leaders, and even the possibility of life beyond Earth. This is a surprising development, given that Rogan previously labeled Trump an “existential threat to democracy” and had refused to have him on the show. Despite past criticism, the two seemed relaxed as they bonded over topics like Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) and mutual friends, including Elon Musk.
Appeal to Core Voters
Why was this interview so crucial for Trump’s campaign? His team hopes that this appearance will further solidify his influence with male voters, who make up a large portion of Rogan’s audience. With 14.5 million followers on Spotify and 17.5 million subscribers on YouTube, Rogan’s show reaches millions of people daily. Trump’s campaign sees this as an opportunity to connect directly with a key demographic in the lead-up to the 2024 election.
“The Biggest Mistake”
When asked about his “biggest mistake” during his presidency, Trump didn’t hold back. He told Rogan he regretted appointing “a few people I shouldn’t have picked.” Specifically, he criticized “neocons, bad people, or disloyal people,” referencing former officials like John Kelly, his Chief of Staff, who recently called Trump’s tendencies “fascist.” Trump also called former National Security Adviser John Bolton “an idiot” but admitted Bolton served a purpose. “Every time I had to negotiate with a foreign leader, they’d see this guy and think, ‘Oh man, Trump’s about to go to war with us,’” he shared, referencing Bolton’s reputation as a hardliner.
Diplomacy with Kim Jong-un
The former president also shared details of his interactions with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. Trump recounted initially calling Kim “Little Rocket Man,” threatening him with “you’re going to burn in hell.” But he claimed the two eventually formed a unique understanding. “By the time I finished, we had no problem with North Korea,” Trump said, even suggesting that he told Kim to “relax, go to the beach,” and proposed building condos on North Korea’s shore. According to Trump, his approach prevented further conflict and kept nuclear tensions at bay.
On Ukraine and Russia
Trump told Rogan that Russia’s invasion of Ukraine would not have happened under his watch. He recalled conversations with Russian President Vladimir Putin, stating, “I used to talk to him all the time. I told him, ‘You’re not going in,’ and he knew I meant it.” Trump argued that Putin’s invasion was partly due to his lack of respect for President Biden. Rogan pressed for more details, but Trump only hinted that “someday” the full story might come out.
2020 Election Claims
The topic of the 2020 election naturally came up, with Trump insisting—without evidence—that it was “the most crooked” election in U.S. history. He hinted at “irregularities” with ballots, especially in states like Wisconsin, and claimed Democrats “used COVID to cheat.” When Rogan asked for proof, Trump dodged, saying, “We’ll do it another time.”
Criticisms and Praise
Trump’s bold personality was on full display as he spoke frankly about his political opponents and allies. He described Vice President Kamala Harris as a “very low IQ person” and labeled California Governor Gavin Newsom as “one of the worst governors in the world.” Meanwhile, he praised Elon Musk, calling him “the greatest guy.” He also hinted at bringing Robert F. Kennedy Jr. into his administration, should he win, though he would task Kennedy with health-related issues rather than environmental policy.
Life Beyond Earth?
In a lighter moment, Rogan and Trump speculated about extraterrestrial life. Trump shared his conversations with pilots who claimed to have seen “very strange things” in the sky. Rogan responded by mentioning Mars rovers and probes, to which Trump replied, “Maybe it’s life we don’t know about.”
His Health and Treadmill Tales
Lastly, Trump addressed his health, a topic often discussed by his critics. While he didn’t provide medical records, he claimed his doctors described his treadmill performance as “unbelievable.” Although he admitted that treadmills are “really boring,” he reassured listeners that he stays active by playing golf.
