In a revealing podcast episode, renowned commentator Joe Rogan has detailed his personal experiences with former US President Donald Trump, describing him as a "very different" and "odd" leader. Rogan, who offered a last-minute endorsement for Trump in the 2024 election against Kamala Harris, shared these insights during a conversation with tech billionaire Jensen Huang.
The Surprising Character of Donald Trump
Joe Rogan, the 58-year-old voice of UFC, recounted an anecdote from Huang, the CEO of NVIDIA, about Trump abruptly deciding to call Rogan while discussing plans for a UFC event at the White House. This story sent Rogan into fits of laughter, leading him to characterise the 79-year-old former president. "He's like a kid. He's like a 79-year-old kid," Rogan stated on his globally popular Spotify podcast, The Joe Rogan Experience.
Rogan, who has met Trump on several occasions at UFC events and attended his January inauguration, elaborated on Trump's unconventional nature. "He's an odd guy. Just very different than what you'd expect... The guy just calls or texts you out of the blue. Also when he texts you, he makes the text go big," Rogan explained. Huang concurred, expressing his own surprise after a one-on-one meeting, noting Trump was "an incredibly good listener" who remembered almost everything said to him.
Praise Amidst Policy Criticism
Despite this personal praise, Rogan was quick to clarify that his favourable view of Trump's character does not equate to blanket support for his policies. "I don't support everything that Trump did in office," Rogan admitted, citing specific examples. He referenced an incident where Trump snapped at a Bloomberg reporter, saying, "Quiet, piggy," which Rogan called "pretty ridiculous" but also "objectively funny," while acknowledging it was unfortunate for the journalist involved.
This nuanced take marks a significant contrast to Rogan's recent strong criticisms of Trump's immigration enforcement tactics. In episodes with fellow podcasters Theo Von and Duncan Trussell in November, Rogan lambasted Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids. "You got ICE raids, where they're taking people that are American citizens and they're scaring the s*** out of everybody," he said. He described the policies as "horrific," urging authorities to "have some heart."
Political Repercussions and Polling Impact
Rogan's comments place him among a growing chorus of conservative voices questioning the aggressive methods used by ICE to detain and deport undocumented immigrants, particularly those without criminal convictions. This issue appears to be having a tangible political cost. A new poll indicates that for 41% of the 55% who disapprove of Trump's job performance, the actions of ICE and immigration enforcement rank among their top three reasons for their negative view.
Rogan's 11th-hour endorsement in the 2024 election and his subsequent critique of core MAGA policies highlight a complex relationship with the former president. He summarised Trump as "an interesting guy" and "a lot of different things wrapped up into one person," capturing the dichotomy between the personally engaging figure and the architect of divisive government actions.
