BY: KANWAL ABIDI.
TEXAS USA : Former President Trump sat with Joe Rogan on Friday for a fiery interview, marking the GOP nominee’s debut on one of the most popular podcasts in the country. Trump touched on a wide range of cultural and political issues in a 3-hour conversation with Joe Rogan, who hosts one of the biggest podcasts in the world.
The recording went on so long that Trump arrived several hours late to his rally that night in Traverse City, Michigan. Frustrated at having to wait so long, many left the rally! In the wide-ranging sit-down, the former President discussed everything at length about immigration, his intense reliance on tariffs for economic policy and his unproven claims that the 2020 election was stolen., he talked about his “biggest mistake” of his White House tenure, what he told North Korea’s leader and whether extraterrestrial life exists. Two years ago, Rogan described Trump as “an existential threat to democracy” and refused to have him on his show. But the pair seemed friendly on Friday as they chatted about their shared interest in Ultimate Fighting Championship and mutual friends like Elon Musk. The Republican’s campaign hopes the interview will consolidate his influence with male voters, who make up the core of listeners to the Joe Rogan Experience, which has 14.5 million Spotify followers and 17.5 million YouTube subscribers. He said the war in Ukraine would never have happened – if he was the President, complained about moderators not fact-checking Harris enough during her one debate with Trump, blasted the traditional media, continued to frame Harris and Democrats as more dangerous than foreign foes, and dabbled in conspiratorial talk about the 2020 election being stolen. Rogan at one point asked Trump to provide examples of how the 2020 election was stolen, as he has long falsely claimed. Trump gave a largely rambling answer that touched on election law changes that he said did not get proper legislative approval.
Rogan is one of the most popular and controversial media personalities in the country, with each of his episodes earning millions and often features conversations with top newsmakers. He is particularly popular with young men, who the Trump campaign has specifically targeted in the upcoming election. Rogan has previously said he is not a Trump supporter and in 2022 indicated he would not be interested in having the former president on the show. But the two appeared extremely comfortable with one another Friday, trading compliments and discussing their shared love of Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) events. “You cannot be voting for Kamala. You’re not a Kamala person. I know you. I’ve watched you,” Trump told the podcast host. “You know what, without speaking to you I know you, I think I know you, maybe almost as well as your wife.”Trump, who is not known as a humble person, seemed to acknowledge the importance of being on Rogan’s podcast, at one point referring to himself as “a student of yours.”“One of the beautiful things about you is that you are freeball,” Rogan said, telling the former President that he thought his impression mocking President Biden was “funny stuff.”The two went on an extended tangent about boxing and UFC events, talking about their mutual friendship with UFC President Dana White. Rogan has worked as a play-by-play announcer at UFC events, while Trump has attended numerous fights and was introduced by Dana White at the July GOP convention.“I want to do it again with you,” Trump said as he wrapped up the interview. “You are something…you are a fascinating guy.”On the environment, Trump said that environmental regulations are “the biggest tool to stopping growth,” and continued to attack his long-running nemesis, the windmill, for what he said is its harmful impact on wildlife. In this case, Trump said he was worried about the impact of windmills on whales.“I want to be a whale psychiatrist,” he said. “It drives the whales freaking crazy if something happens with them, but they’re getting washed up and yet the environmentalists they don’t talk about, right?”The podcast host asked Trump on Friday whether he was set on having Kennedy as part of his administration, if he wins in November.Trump said RFK Jr. would have administration role, but it won’t be ‘environmental’! Rogan had previously expressed support for Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who ran an independent White House bid before suspending his campaign and endorsing Trump in late August.“Oh I am. The only thing I want to be a little careful about with him is the environmental,” Trump said. “Because you know, he doesn’t like oil, I love oil and gas. So, I’m just going to keep him out … I said, ‘Focus on health. You can do whatever you want.’ But, I gotta be a little careful with the liquid gold.”Trump told Rogan he has faced pressure as not to work with Kennedy, citing someone big from pharmaceutical industry. The two then had an extended discussion about systemic health issues facing the country, with the podcast host suggesting if there was a greater focus on “metabolic health,” there wouldn’t be such a need for pharmaceutical drugs.Rogan has in the past drawn backlash for his anti-vaccine rhetoric, including when he hosted a prominent anti-vaccine influencer on his show in 2022.Kennedy has similarly drawn criticism for his anti-vaccine comments. He has led an initiative for the Trump campaign dubbed “Make America Healthy Again.”Podcast underscores Trump appeal to young voters, as the Trump campaign has invested significant time and energy courting young men, with a particular focus on the former president’s media appearances. Trump’s sit-down with Rogan was yet another extension of that strategy,
“So, I have a son who’s very smart, and tall, Barron. And he knows all about you,” Trump said. “He knows about guys, I never heard of… it’s a whole new world out there. But you know, I’m on TikTok now. And I’ve done really well.”He also continued to personally assault Harris, calling her “not smart” and framing her as a bigger threat to the nation than even foreign adversaries.“If she becomes the president of the United States, which I can’t believe can happen,” Trump said, “I don’t think this country is going to make it.”Trump has increasingly called Harris “stupid,” and during a Thursday-night rally in Las Vegas, he said her policies would “kill thousands of people.”
Yet on Friday, Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson of Louisiana and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky issued a letter calling on Harris to tone down the rhetoric. They argued that Trump could face a third assassination attempt as a result of heated campaign talk.“Labeling a political opponent as a ‘fascist,’ risks inviting yet another would-be assassin to try robbing voters of their choice before election day,” the two wrote in the letter!The letter did not mention that Trump has applied that term to Harris on multiple occasions.
As the third hour of the interview approached, Trump said he realized he needed to get to a scheduled rally in Michigan, which he was late for because of the length of the Rogan interview.“I’ve got to go make a great speech,” Trump said. “And If I’m a little late tonight, I’m going to blame you.”
