Podcast host Joe Rogan announced his support for Donald Trump in the 2024 presidential campaign, sharing his support on social media and saying that tech mogul Elon Musk influenced his decision. Rogan, posting on X (formerly known as Twitter), shared a link to a lengthy interview with Musk, calling him “the great and powerful Elon Musk.” In his post, Rogan said, “Musk, in my opinion, makes the most compelling pro-Trump argument you will ever hear, and I agree with him every step of the way.” He clarified that his post was actually an endorsement of Trump.
This announcement comes just before the election and highlights the influence Rogan has, with his podcast The Joe Rogan Experience being the most popular on Spotify. In recent years, Rogan's show has attracted millions of listeners by featuring in-depth conversations with a variety of guests, from controversial figures to celebrities. He recently hosted Trump himself and their interview has already been viewed 45 million times on YouTube. Rogan is also reportedly in talks to interview Democratic candidate Kamala Harris.
Rogan's support for Trump has contributed to ongoing discussions about his influence in the media. Known for his unfiltered style and welcoming guests with strong opinions, Rogan has sparked controversy over the years. His comments during the COVID-19 pandemic drew criticism from health experts who accused him of spreading misinformation. For example, in January 2022, a group of scientists and medical professionals wrote an open letter to Spotify warning that Rogan's podcast had spread inaccurate information about COVID-19, including claims against vaccinations for young people and promotion of the drug Ivermectin as a treatment. The letter expressed concerns that Rogan's influence could lead to distrust of medical advice and science.
In response to the backlash, Spotify added links to accurate COVID-19 information on relevant episodes and published its content guidelines. The controversy escalated when musician Neil Young removed his music from Spotify to protest the platform's association with Rogan's podcast. Other artists joined in pointing out additional criticisms of the show, such as racially motivated comments made by some of Rogan's guests.
Rogan directly addressed some of the controversy. In early 2022, he apologized for using offensive language on his show after a video surfaced that showed him making multiple racial slurs in previous episodes. Spotify, which signed Rogan to a $100 million deal in 2020, removed certain episodes featuring far-right guests or conspiracy theorists to mitigate further backlash. More recently, Rogan's influence has become even stronger, with his most recent contract rumored to be worth around $250 million.
This Trump support just before the election underscores Rogan's influence over his largely male, large audience. Meanwhile, his story with Musk has also attracted attention as the two have often made headlines together. Their most famous incident occurred in 2018 when Musk smoked a joint on Rogan's show, which led to Tesla's stock crashing and the resignation of some executives.
Rogan's public support for Trump has further highlighted his role as a cultural force, with Musk's influence clearly influencing his vote in the 2024 election.