In a striking critique from a former endorser, prominent podcaster Joe Rogan has labelled the ongoing war against Iran as "insane" and claimed it has caused many of Donald Trump's supporters to "feel betrayed" by the president. Rogan, who backed Trump ahead of the 2024 election, expressed his disillusionment during a conversation with journalist Michael Shellenberger on his widely followed podcast, specifically targeting Operation Epic Fury for not aligning with Trump's prior campaign rhetoric.
Rogan's Blunt Assessment of Trump's Policy Shift
"It just seems so insane based on what he ran on," Rogan stated emphatically. He highlighted the stark contrast between Trump's "pro-peace" campaign messaging, which included touting his ticket with JD Vance and suggesting opponent Kamala Harris would send Americans to war, and the current military engagement. "I mean, this is why a lot of people feel betrayed, right? He ran on 'No more wars, end these stupid, senseless wars,' and then we have one that we can't even really clearly define why we did it," Rogan added, voicing a sentiment of confusion and disappointment among the president's base.
Defence and Retort in the Podcast Exchange
Shellenberger attempted a partial defence of Trump by noting the president only promised "no endless wars," but Rogan quickly retorted with a cynical quip: "Listen, man, they're all endless." This exchange underscores the deepening scepticism from figures within conservative media circles. Rogan further echoed criticisms from commentators like Tucker Carlson and Megyn Kelly, suggesting the war is primarily being fought on behalf of Israel. "Clearly, Israel wants this," he said, adding, "It just doesn’t make any sense to me, unless we’re acting on someone else’s interests — like particularly Israel’s interests."
Trump's Ambiguous Stance and Military Escalation
Amid this criticism, President Trump delivered a sweeping update on the Iran conflict from his Doral, Florida, golf resort, declaring the war will charge ahead despite earlier hints it could soon end. He ordered more than two dozen new B2 bombers and revealed the US military has already struck 5,000 targets, with the conflict now stretching into its second week. "We could call it a tremendous success right now … or we could go further, and we’re going to go further," Trump asserted. "We will not relent until the enemy is totally and decisively defeated." However, he remained ambiguous about the war's duration and future military operations in the region.
Contradictory Messages and Iranian Response
Trump's comments came just moments after he told CBS News the war was "very complete," claiming US forces were "very far ahead of schedule" and that Iran had "no navy, no communications, they've got no Air Force." When confronted by a reporter about this vacillating message, contrasting with his defence secretary's statement that "this is just the beginning," Trump gave a perplexing response: "You could say both." Later, on Monday night, he escalated tensions with a Truth Social post warning Iran of "Death, Fire, and Fury" if they close off the Strait of Hormuz, threatening to hit them "TWENTY TIMES HARDER" and destroy targets to prevent Iran from rebuilding as a nation.
In response, Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps issued a blunt statement asserting, "We are the ones who will determine the end of the war," highlighting the ongoing stalemate and defiant posture from Tehran. This back-and-forth illustrates the complex and volatile nature of the conflict, as Rogan's criticisms reflect broader concerns about consistency and purpose in US foreign policy under Trump's second term.
