Joe Rogan, one of the most influential voices in American media, is turning on Donald Trump. And the reason cuts deep: immigration raids.
Rogan, who endorsed Trump just hours before the 2024 presidential election, now says he was misled by the man he helped boost into office. The podcaster and UFC commentator, known for giving a platform to anti-cancel culture figures and free speech advocates, is now accusing Trump of betraying the very values he campaigned on.
“We were told there would be…,” Rogan began during a July 2 episode of The Joe Rogan Experience, before trailing off and recalibrating. “There’s two things that are insane. One is the targeting of migrant workers, not cartel members, not gang members, not drug dealers, just construction workers showing up at construction sites, raiding them. Gardeners. Like, really?”
His guest, Amjad Masad, the Palestinian founder and CEO of the coding platform Replit, agreed. The two were discussing the Trump administration’s crackdown on immigrants, especially in the context of escalating tensions over Gaza and political speech on U.S. campuses.
Masad brought up recent reports of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) targeting Palestinian students and immigrants on flimsy pretenses. “Did you see the video of the Turkish student at Tufts University who wrote an essay?” he asked.
Rogan responded, incredulous: “It was just critical of Israel, right? And that’s enough to get you kicked out of the country?”
The two were referencing growing concern that lawful political speech, especially criticism of Israel, is increasingly being used as grounds for visa cancellations and deportations under Trump’s revived immigration policy.
Rogan’s Endorsement and Regret
Back on November 4, 2024, Rogan endorsed Trump on social media, just before the election. It was a powerful signal to his massive base of male followers.
“The great and powerful @elonmusk. If it wasn’t for him we’d be fucked,” Rogan wrote at the time. “He makes what I think is the most compelling case for Trump you’ll hear, and I agree with him every step of the way. For the record, yes, that’s an endorsement of Trump.”
The post racked up more than 50 million views. But less than a year later, Rogan seems to be reconsidering.
The great and powerful @elonmusk.
If it wasn’t for him we’d be fucked. He makes what I think is the most compelling case for Trump you’ll hear, and I agree with him every step of the way.
For the record, yes, that’s an endorsement of Trump.
Enjoy the podcast pic.twitter.com/LdBxZFVsLN— Joe Rogan (@joerogan) November 5, 2024
While he made clear he would never vote for Kamala Harris, Rogan now feels duped. The immigration policy he thought would focus on violent criminals has instead become a broader crackdown on immigrant communities, including legal residents, students, and workers.
From America First to Raids and Fear
During the campaign, Trump vowed mass deportations of undocumented immigrants, but insisted the focus would be on criminals and gang members. His rallies featured mugshots of alleged MS-13 members and claims that his plan would “clean up the streets.”
But now that he’s back in the White House, reality looks different. According to recent court filings and ICE data, many of the people being arrested or deported have no criminal records at all.
That discrepancy is what’s pushing Rogan to speak out. He’s built his brand around authenticity and free speech. Trump’s current approach, he suggests, smells more like authoritarianism than policy.
“Fascism is the response almost always to communism,” Rogan said on the same podcast, quoting ANthony Rispo, a student of psychology and neuroscience at Columbia University. “What we experience in this country is this continual overcorrection. Overcorrection to the left, then overcorrection to the right, to counter that.”
In other words, Rogan is wondering if Trump’s policies are an overcorrection too far, and if they resemble fascism more than freedom.
Thanks @joerogan for shouting me out on @joeroganhq !! pic.twitter.com/gTV7MRgRWq
— Anthony Rispo (@anthony_rispo) July 3, 2025
Musk, DOGE, and the Fracture of the Bro Alliance
Rogan’s disillusionment mirrors that of Elon Musk, another former Trump ally. Musk, who headed the now-infamous Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), has become one of Trump’s fiercest critics since Congress passed the “One Big Beautiful Bill,” a legislation that slashed EV subsidies, immigration protections, and environmental incentives.
Musk is now threatening to start a third political party. And while Trump can afford to ignore the Tesla CEO’s rebellion, he can’t easily brush off Joe Rogan. Why? Because they share the same audience: disaffected men, anti-establishment voters, young libertarians, and people tired of traditional politics.
If that group is forced to choose between Trump and Rogan, the outcome could significantly impact the 2026 midterm elections and future political landscapes.
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