Before diving into why I think Joe Rogan is being a pussy, let me start by saying I admire him. I’ve been listening to Joe Rogan’s podcast for years now, and I genuinely believe he’s a rare voice in podcasting—and is a treasure in today’s world overall.
Rogan adds immense value to society. The variety of insights and knowledge his show offers has completely changed how I gather information. For me, thanks to Joe Rogan, listening to podcasts has replaced reading books; the conversations he hosts provide perspectives on life that you rarely find anywhere else.
Why I Think He’s a Pussy
There’s one thing that bugs me about Rogan: his reluctance to endorse Donald Trump for president in 2024.
Now, of course, endorsing someone for president is a personal decision, and Rogan has every right to choose whom he supports or doesn’t. It’s his choice, and I get that. I didn’t mind his stance in 2016 or even in 2020. But in 2024, the stakes are different.
What disappoints me is that Rogan, of all people, understands the challenges and pitfalls of the leftist policies that have affected the country. He left California because it was being torn apart by the very policies he critiques. He moved to Texas—a state governed by more conservative principles—and enjoys the benefits of that system. By choosing Texas over California, he’s made a clear statement about which policies he finds more favorable.
Considering this, I believe Rogan has a responsibility to use his influence to support a candidate who would steer the country away from the type of policies that led to California’s downward spiral.
Rogan has always struck me as a rational thinker, someone with a solid sense of common sense and logic. Most of the time, I find myself nodding in agreement with his viewpoints because of his practical approach.
Although he identifies as liberal, he seems increasingly aligned with conservative ideals given today’s political climate. He’s outspoken against many far-left policies, such as pushing transgender ideology in ways he sees as intrusive—like men in women’s sports and children making irreversible decisions on gender. He’s also vocal about his concerns over open immigration policies and has criticized Joe Biden’s competency. He’s clear-eyed about the direction the left has taken, and his views today often mirror those of conservatives more than liberals.
Common Enemy
One thing that strikes me is that Rogan and Trump actually share a common enemy: the mainstream media. Since Trump first ran in 2015, the media has been constantly painting him in a negative light. Rogan, too, has faced media backlash—especially during the pandemic. He was unfairly labeled as an anti-vaxxer and almost got canceled. The media didn’t hesitate to vilify him for hosting guests like Dr. Robert Malone and Peter McCullough, who questioned the mainstream narrative around COVID-19 and vaccines. Rogan has bravely faced these attacks and emerged with a better understanding of the corruption that permeates parts of the media and government.
This shared experience—being targeted by the media—should ideally create a sense of empathy in Rogan toward Trump. Rogan has firsthand experience with how powerful institutions can try to tear down someone who challenges the status quo. This knowledge alone should give him common ground with Trump.
Political Endorsements
Rogan has been reluctant to host Trump or show any endorsement. Although he’s stated he doesn’t want to help any candidate, he’s hosted Bernie Sanders, RFK Jr., and Tulsi Gabbard. He even supported Bernie in 2020. Recently, he showed support for RFK Jr. and openly appreciated Gabbard’s work. He even gave RFK Jr. support during his 2024 campaign. This shows a bit of inconsistency, especially when it comes to Trump.
However, credit where it’s due: as of writing this on Oct 31, 2024, Rogan did eventually invite Trump on his show, and the episode was a monumental success. It was so popular that it faced blatant censorship from platforms like YouTube and Google, which blocked the episode with massive millions of views from appearing in search results. Today, he also hosted JD Vance, Trump’s vice-presidential pick. So yes, Rogan deserves credit for that.
But even after all this, he still won’t openly endorse Trump. Why?
With influence comes responsibility. And this year, many influential figures who have always leaned liberal—like Elon Musk—have publicly shown support for Trump, despite having a lot more to lose. Rogan’s favorite personalities, like Tulsi Gabbard and RFK Jr., who were once Democrats, have also endorsed Trump, recognizing the crisis the country is facing absent Trump’s victory.
Joe Rogan, on the other hand, despite understanding these dynamics, seems unwilling to take that final step.
And that’s why, as much as I respect him, I think Joe Rogan is a pussy.
UPDATE:
On Monday, November 4, just as I had predicted on 𝕏, Joe Rogan had Elon Musk on the podcast and endorsed Trump. Finally!