By Marni Rose McFall
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Podcaster Joe Rogan voiced further criticism of the war in Iran in a new episode of The Joe Rogan Experience, despite efforts made by President Donald Trump to win back his support.
During a discussion with the comedian and writer Ari Shaffir, the two men discussed both the war in Gaza and the war in Iran. Rogan began by saying in the discussion, “If you talk about like what's happening in Gaza, people say well, October 7th shouldn't have happened. Like, okay, you're right. It shouldn't have. But guess what? Those kids who live in Gaza, they didn't do October 7th,” he said.
“It’s like what we did to Iran. What if Iran nukes New York City? Those kids that live in the Bronx, they had nothing to do with what happened in Iran. So, like, is that okay? Like, what are we talking about?” he continued.
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Why It Matters
Rogan’s criticism comes as Trump has moved to get both Rogan and his base back onside, as the response to the war in Iran in the podcast sphere and among young men has highlighted a fracturing of support for Trump in one of his key bases.
Rogan endorsed Trump in the 2024 presidential election, had him as a guest on his podcast, attended his inauguration and as such, has been largely aligned with him during his second term in office.
However, he has broken with the president on a number of issues, from the handling of the release of the Epstein files to immigration policy.
And as the president’s popularity has declined amid concerns about the economy and the war in Iran, there has been a groundswell of criticism in the manosphere podcast space that was pivotal in Trump’s 2024 bid for re-election. As Trump has lost sway with key figures in the male podcast space, this has in turn impacted his influencers with their young male listeners, a base which could be pivotal in the 2026 midterms.
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What To Know
Rogan and Shaffir spoke about the current state of politics and conflict in the middle east. Rogan spoke specifically about Israel and voiced criticism of the war in Gaza, a rhetoric he has previously voiced on his podcast. “It’s not going to get any better,” he said.
“They’ve destroyed Gaza, Gaza’s just a wasteland now,” he said.
The war in Gaza began after a Hamas attack on Israel on October 7 where 1,200 people were killed and 251 taken hostage, and Israel then launched a war on Gaza. Some 70,000 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli attacks. A United Nations commission of inquiry has said that Israel has committed genocide against Palestinians in Gaza, which Israel has denied. Conflict and ceasefire negotiations are ongoing.
Shaffir then added in the conversation, “It’s interesting, if you ask people how like polarizing everybody got, or polarized that you can’t just be like, any suffering's wrong. I could show you a dead baby and a lot of people would go well, I got to know what their last name is first before I can tell you if I feel bad or not.”
“That’s what’s so dark,” Rogan said.
His remarks come shortly after he made a surprise appearance alongside Trump at the Oval Office, standing behind the president as he signed an executive order that he says will “dramatically accelerate access to new medical research and treatments based on psychedelic drugs."
Rogan also addressed his relationship with the president on a recent episode of his podcast, acknowledging their breaks on policy and the commentary around their relationship. He said that Trump is not mad at him, and that the president and the podcaster are still cordial.
What Happens Next
Negotiations between Washington and Tehran recently stalled. The president wants Iran’s nuclear threat to be eliminated in any deal, but Tehran has refused to negotiate the end of its nuclear program.
In the meantime, the Strait of Hormuz remains closed, prompting fears that further economic hardship will follow, which will likely prompt further criticism of the president both from his opponents and within his base.
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