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.
Oh my goodness. Could it be that Donald Trump isn’t on the up and up? Say it ain’t so!
Rogan isn’t the only leader of the bro-faction feeling like Daddy isn’t all that:
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.
Neither of these people are politically serious. But I guess everyone has to take them seriously because they command a faction of naive little boys and cynical men who are attracted to their rather pathetic transgressiveness.
I wouldn’t make too much of this right now. It’s much too early to predict whether this will last or if Trump can woo them with his very special bronzer made-up, Tres Semme hair sprayed, manly charisma that seems to appeal to certain men in this country. But it’s a start.