MS NOW presenter Nicolle Wallace has taken a pointed swipe at prominent podcasters, including Joe Rogan, for publicly distancing themselves from former President Donald Trump, all while her own significant political evolution faces renewed scrutiny.
Wallace's Critique of the 'Manosphere'
During a recent broadcast of Deadline: White House, Wallace, 53, highlighted what she described as a notable shift among influential voices in the so-called 'manosphere'. She played clips featuring Joe Rogan, Shawn Ryan, and Andrew Schulz lavishing praise on Trump, contrasting it with their more recent critical stance.
'Many people who might have associated themselves with Donald Trump, even this time last year, are already having some second thoughts and saying so publicly. It’s easy to see in the so-called manosphere,' Wallace stated. She clarified she was not presenting the men as heroic, but acknowledged their significant influence in aiding Trump's past electoral success.
'Joe Rogan has the biggest podcast in the country, maybe in the world,' she noted, before criticising a 2024 segment where Rogan complimented Trump's appearance. Wallace expressed hope Rogan now 'cringes' at his past support, criticising Trump's rhetoric and suggesting these influencers now want to distance themselves from 'the stench of his political failures'.
A Controversial Past: From Bush Insider to Media Critic
Wallace's commentary, however, conspicuously omitted her own substantial political transformation. From 2003 to 2005, she served as White House Communications Director under President George W. Bush, a role that saw her vigorously defend the 2003 invasion of Iraq.
That conflict, launched on the premise of locating weapons of mass destruction that were never found, resulted in the deaths of over 4,400 US military personnel and an estimated 200,000 Iraqi civilians. The war's destabilising aftermath is also widely cited as a key factor in the rise of the Islamic State (ISIS).
Wallace's stance underwent a dramatic shift following her move into media in 2008. Her well-paid career as a liberal television commentator stands in stark contrast to her past as a key advocate for one of modern America's most contentious military engagements.
Recent Clashes and Context
This is not the first time Wallace's commentary has sparked controversy. In October, she hosted actor Jeff Daniels to perform a song about 'No Kings' protests. That same month, she received a public rebuke from popular radio host Charlamagne Tha God after she characterised him as a MAGA shill during the last election cycle.
Charlamagne corrected her, stating his show The Breakfast Club never endorsed Trump but merely highlighted issues like border security and the economy that were resonating with voters. 'I'll never forget when MSNBC did that to me,' he remarked on her podcast.
Wallace joined MSNBC (now MS NOW) in 2015 after a stint on The View and a role advising Senator John McCain's 2008 presidential campaign. Her professional journey from a defender of the Iraq War to a critic of Trump-aligned media figures underscores the complex and often contradictory paths within political media commentary.
