Joe Rogan’s interview with Donald Trump has generated massive attention, accumulating over 34 million views within the first 48 hours on YouTube. With less than eight days until the 2024 presidential election, Trump’s appearance on The Joe Rogan Experience seems to have struck a chord with viewers.
The episode ranks just outside the top 10 most-watched episodes in the show’s 15-year history, the highest being Rogan’s 2018 interview with Elon Musk which drew over 68 million views. Musk, who famously smoked marijuana during that episode, has also endorsed Trump in the ongoing election. With Rogan’s interview with Trump being just two days old, the episode will likely pass the rest and become number one.
During the interview, Trump and Rogan discussed several issues, beginning with the controversial presidential debate between Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris back in September. Trump criticized debate moderators David Muir and Linsey Davis, accusing them of displaying clear bias.
“They fact-checked you and they didn’t fact-check her,” Rogan pointed out, referring to Harris’s false claims about troop deployments and police deaths on January 6. “So it’s one of two things it’s either it was not true and was a lie on purpose, which is terrible, or it was the opposite, it was ignorance, which is also terrible,” Rogan concluded.
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The discussion shifted to other themes, with Rogan describing conservatism as the new counterculture. “The rebels are Republicans now,” Rogan asserted, arguing that leftists have increasingly supported censorship and speech regulation. Trump echoed these sentiments, noting the unprecedented legal attacks against him, which he compared to those faced by notorious gangster Al Capone. “I kid, but I’m not kidding. I’ve been investigated more than Alphonse Capone. He was the meanest of them all. He’d kill you in two seconds if he didn’t like you, right?” Trump said.
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The conversation also delved into Harris’s controversial record. Trump claimed that Harris’s policy positions have flip-flopped since her failed 2020 presidential run, highlighting changes on issues like fracking, healthcare for illegal immigrants, and law enforcement funding. “She’s changed 15 policies,” Trump said, joking that he might send Harris a MAGA hat in recognition of her newfound support for some of his policies.
“You know, Kamala’s a very low IQ person. She’s a very low IQ,” the former president said. “You know, I’m for taking tests, too. I think anybody that runs for president should take, they should give them tests. And it’s not an age thing. It’s not based… If you look back on history, 70s and 80s, some of your greatest leaders in the world, history, long-time world history, they were in their 70s and their 80s. But I think you should take cognitive tests.”
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Other notable episodes of The Joe Rogan Experience have also drawn considerable attention over the years, setting a precedent for the Trump interview’s massive view count. Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a prominent figure in the 2024 election as an independent candidate, appeared on Rogan’s show in 2023. The episode, which attracted over 23 million views, focused on RFK Jr.’s criticism of vaccine mandates, government overreach, and his campaign against “big pharma.”
Bernie Sanders made headlines when he became the first major Democratic presidential candidate to appear on Rogan’s show during the 2020 campaign. Kanye West’s 2020 appearance was another standout episode, gathering over 26 million views. West delved into topics like his controversial presidential bid, mental health, and his approach to breaking away from the establishment.
With Rogan having a massive platform and reputation for in-depth, unfiltered conversations, the episode with Trump is likely to further shape public opinion as the 2024 race reaches its climax.
(VOTE: Should ’60 Minutes’ Be Investigated For Deceptively Editing Kamala Interview?)