Former President Donald Trump appeared on “The Joe Rogan Experience” podcast, recording nearly three hours of conversation in Austin, Texas, that aired on Friday.
This interview on Rogan’s show, which reaches over 14.5 million Spotify followers and 17.6 million YouTube subscribers, provided Trump with a significant platform to engage with Rogan’s largely younger male audience—a demographic he has sought to influence as he campaigns for the 2024 Republican nomination.
During the episode, Trump discussed a variety of topics, from his White House tenure to his views on health and the environment. One prominent subject was his appointment of John Bolton as National Security Adviser. Trump revealed that despite warnings from businessman Phil Ruffin about Bolton’s contentious nature, he proceeded with the hire. “And [Ruffin] was right,” Trump remarked. “But [Bolton] was good in a certain way. He’s a nut job…every time I had to deal with a country, when they saw this whack job standing behind me, they thought, ‘Man, Trump’s going to go to war with us.’”
The conversation also highlighted Trump’s media presence, with Rogan suggesting that his popularity surged due to his unfiltered communication style. “You said a lot of wild stuff,” Rogan stated, “and CNN, in all their brilliance, by highlighting your wild [statements], made you much more popular.” Trump responded with a smile, acknowledging his unexpected media traction.
Rogan and Trump also delved into the shifting dynamics of the political landscape, discussing perceived changes within the Democratic and Republican parties. “The rebels are Republicans now…you want to be punk rock, you want to buck the system? You’re a conservative now,” Rogan said, suggesting that conservative viewpoints have, in some ways, adopted countercultural values. Elon Musk, CEO of X (formerly Twitter), reacted to this segment on social media, calling it “Exactly.”
The discussion shifted to foreign policy when Trump recounted a conversation with then-outgoing President Obama, who anticipated that North Korea could provoke a military conflict. Rogan mentioned Trump’s use of the nickname “Little Rocket Man” for North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. Trump recalled telling Kim, “You’re going to burn in hell,” adding that he had suggested Kim relax and consider “building condos” rather than focusing on nuclear armament.
Rogan praised Trump for his reported interest in working with Robert F. Kennedy Jr., an outspoken health advocate and current presidential candidate. When asked if he would give Kennedy a formal role in his administration, Trump responded affirmatively but acknowledged concerns.
“I’m going to keep him out of a little bit…I love oil,” Trump said, referring to Kennedy’s environmental positions. Rogan brought attention to the prevalence of “toxic chemicals” in the American food supply, a topic of shared interest between Trump and Kennedy. Kennedy, Rogan noted, recently claimed that “more than 70% of young men are ineligible for the military because of their health.”
Trump expressed his admiration for Kennedy’s dedication to public health reform, though he added that “Big Pharma wasn’t thrilled” about their collaboration.
Original article source: Trump appeared on Joe Rogan’s podcast for nearly three hours: Here are the top moments
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