Joe Rogan says he initially refused to have Donald Trump on his podcast during the 2024 campaign — but a combination of political “lawfare” and shocking developments finally changed his mind.
In a newly released clip from an earlier interview on the “Ultimate Human” podcast with Gary Brecka, Rogan details the exact moment he decided to invite Trump on the Joe Rogan Experience.
Joe Rogan explains why he finally interviewed Trump in 2024: “First of all, there was the lawfare… They were trying to convict him and turn him into a felon. And they were doing it so blatantly and obviously… And then when they tried to k*ll him.”pic.twitter.com/haNfidAqDU
— Thomas Sowell Quotes (@ThomasSowell) July 16, 2025
“They Were Doing It So Blatantly”
“Well, there was a bunch of things that happened,” Rogan said.
“First of all, there was the lawfare. There were these lawsuits that they were trying to pin on him. They were trying to convict him and turn him into a felon. And they were doing it so blatantly and obviously.”
Rogan pointed specifically to the New York case brought by DA Alvin Bragg, where Trump was charged with 34 felonies over a bookkeeping misdemeanor — a charge that even legal experts admitted was weak.
“None of It Made Any Sense”
“It’s not even a felony,” Rogan said. “It’s a misdemeanor, and it’s also past the statute of limitations. None of it made any sense. And people were cheering it on. ‘He’s a convicted felon.’”
Rogan said he realized that the system was being weaponized — and that it was time to give Trump the platform.
“And Then They Tried to Kill Him”
Perhaps the most powerful moment in Rogan’s explanation came when he referenced the assassination attempt on President Trump during the campaign:
“And then when they tried to kill him.”
Rogan’s voice drops, pausing as he acknowledges the gravity of the moment. That was the final turning point.
Trump’s Appearance Shaped the Election
Trump’s October 2024 interview on The Joe Rogan Experience racked up over 59 million views, making it the most-watched political podcast interview in history.
Many credit that moment — alongside appearances on shows like Nelk Boys and Patrick Bet-David — with helping sway younger, independent, and disaffected voters toward Trump.
