In a surprising turn, popular podcaster Joe Rogan has publicly mocked former President Donald Trump for his peculiar texting style, comparing him to a "79-year-old kid." This critique marks a notable cooling in a relationship that was once a firm political alliance during the 2024 campaign.
Revealing Trump's 'Ridiculous' Texting Quirk
Rogan revealed the former president's bizarre texting habits during a conversation with Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang on the Wednesday episode of The Joe Rogan Experience. He mimed texts swelling in size as he described Trump's use of the "big" iMessage effect, which causes messages to expand dramatically to fill the recipient's screen.
"He makes the text go big," Rogan explained, offering an example. "Like 'USA is RESPECTED again,' all caps, and it makes the text enlarge. It's kind of ridiculous." Rogan also characterised Trump as an "odd guy" who is "very different" from his public persona.
From Political Ally to Vocal Critic
This mockery represents a significant shift. During the 2024 presidential campaign, Rogan was a consistent supporter, claiming many US celebrities privately thanked him for his praise. The alliance peaked with a three-hour interview with Trump on the podcast, which amassed a staggering 38 million views in just three days.
However, the relationship has soured in recent months. Rogan has become increasingly critical of Trump's policies, particularly his hardline crackdown on immigration. He described raids on migrant workers as "f***ing nuts," arguing that ICE resources should target drug dealers and cartel members instead.
Shifting Stance on Election Fraud Claims
Rogan's criticism extends to Trump's persistent claims about the 2020 election. While he allowed Trump to discuss his conspiracy theories during the 2024 podcast appearance and once drew parallels between questioning the election and vaccine scepticism, his position has now changed.
As Trump's popularity has waned, Rogan stated in August that he does not believe the former president's administration has "any evidence" that Joe Biden stole the election. "I think there's a lot of speculation and there's a lot of consideration about mail-in ballots," Rogan said, acknowledging "shenanigans" but distancing himself from the fraud narrative.
This public distancing on key issues like immigration and election integrity signals a fractured dynamic between the influential podcaster and the former president he once enthusiastically endorsed.
