Joe Rogan Blasts 'Terrible Idea' of Trump Going...

By Peter Aitken

Politics Weekend Editor

ShareNewsweek is a Trust Project member

Popular podcaster Joe Rogan continued his criticism of President Donald Trump on Thursday in his newest episode, taking issue with the president's aggression toward Venezuela and potential for war.

"I thought they decided not to," Rogan said in conversation with his guest, comedian Shane Gillis, adding, "I don't think anybody's going to really support that at all. It would be a terrible idea."

Why It Matters

Rogan was among the leading voices among podcasters and the so-called "manosphere" to back Trump during the 2024 U.S. presidential election. Along with Tim Dillon and Andrew Schulz, Rogan formed a cornerstone of Trump's appeal to young, anti-establishment male voters, which helped propel him to victory in November last year.

But after seeing what the president's new vision of America looks like in action, Rogan and his peers have started to distance themselves from the administration and openly criticize it. The podcasters have voiced disillusion over immigration policies, unfulfilled promises and handling of the Epstein files. Rogan has called the administration's U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids "insane" for targeting "construction workers and gardeners" instead of criminals.

“I really thought they were just going to go after the criminals,” Rogan said in a recent episode. “If you have been here for 25 years, you have a family, your kids go to school here, you speak the language … you’re just illegal, but you’re a contributing member to the community that up until now has been protected. This is crazy.”

...

What To Know

Rogan has continued to distance himself from Trump over the past few months, but this week has marked a significant turn by the podcaster as he has outright criticized Trump and his plans in multiple episodes.

In an episode broadcast on December 23, Rogan and comedian Tom Segura talked about the need for the president to have a "right-hand man" to help him because he's "losing it."

"You can tell," Segura said, to which Rogan quipped, "I think everybody does when you get to a certain age."

On the episode that aired on Christmas, Rogan spoke with Gillis about the government and foreign objectives, to which Gillis joked that it's entirely possible that the U.S. had gone to war with Venezuela by the time the episode released.

Rogan, initially confused because he believed that the administration had "decided not to"—only for Gillis to tell him otherwise—replied that he didn't think "anybody" would support the administration waging war on Venezuela.

"Obviously, he doesn't give a f***," Gillis said, reminding Rogan about the plaques Trump recently had placed in the Presidential Walk of Fame to ridicule former Presidents Barack Obama and Joe Biden, adding, "Why the f*** would we do that?"

What People Are Saying

Trump, last week on Truth Social, in part: "The illegitimate Maduro Regime is using Oil from these stolen Oil Fields to finance themselves, Drug Terrorism, Human Trafficking, Murder, and Kidnapping. For the theft of our Assets, and many other reasons, including Terrorism, Drug Smuggling, and Human Trafficking, the Venezuelan Regime has been designated a FOREIGN TERRORIST ORGANIZATION. Therefore, today, I am ordering A TOTAL AND COMPLETE BLOCKADE OF ALL SANCTIONED OIL TANKERS going into, and out of, Venezuela."

Former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, on X this week: "Socialism has destroyed Venezuela - once one of the richest countries in Latin America. The Venezuelan people deserve the chance to rebuild their country - and America should stand ready to help them."

U.S. Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, on X in September: "To actually address the asylum crisis, we must start with the US foreign policy and global dynamics creating it. The broad Trump/Rubio sanctions have played a major role in driving millions of people out of Venezuela. Serious discussions about asylum seekers should address that."

The news cycle is loud. Algorithms push us to extremes. In the middle—where facts, ideas and progress live—there's a void. At Newsweek, we fill it with fearless, fair and fiercely independent journalism.
Common ground isn't just possible—it's essential. Our readers reflect America's diversity, united by a desire for thoughtful, unbiased news. Independent ratings confirm our approach: NewsGuard gives us 100/100 for reliability, and AllSides places us firmly in the political center.
In a polarized era, the center is dismissed as bland. Ours is different: The Courageous Center—it's not "both sides," it's sharp, challenging and alive with ideas. We follow facts, not factions. If that sounds like the kind of journalism you want to see thrive, we need you.
When you become a Newsweek Member, you support a mission to keep the center strong and vibrant. Members enjoy:
Conventional Wisdom: Tracking political winds with clarity.
Uncommon Knowledge: Deep dives into overlooked truths.
Ad-free browsing and exclusive editor conversations.
Help keep the center courageous. Join today.