Many loyal podcast listeners have been eagerly anticipating popular talk show host, stand-up comedian, and UFC commentator Joe Rogan to interview former President Donald Trump.
But Trump announced Tuesday that he was not invited to Rogan’s podcast and seemed less than enthusiastic when asked if he wanted a recorded interview with him.
Rogan has said he doesn’t want Trump on his platform because he doesn’t want to help the candidate or inadvertently influence people to vote for him.
But the podcast host was forced to walk back what was widely seen as a show of support for former independent candidate RFK Jr. last month after massive MAGA backlash.
Rogan sparked anger among his ardent supporters and Trump himself after a clip from his show revealed he was endorsing RFK Jr. for president.
Trump questioned Rogan’s apparent support on social media.
Donald Trump said he wasn’t invited to Joe Rogan’s podcast, but admitted in an interview Tuesday: ‘I think I would’ if he were asked
“It will be interesting to see how hard Joe Rogan gets booed the next time he steps into the UFC ring???,” Trump wondered in a post on Truth Social, despite Rogan clarifying his position.
When asked Tuesday if there were tensions between Trump and Rogan, the former president said there were not.
“I don’t think there was any tension and I’ve always liked him. But I don’t know him,” Trump told Lex Fridman in his podcast episode released Tuesday.
“The only time I see him is when I walk into the arena with Dana (White) and shake his hand,” the 2024 Republican presidential candidate continued. “I see him there and I think he’s good at what he does, but I don’t know if I should do his podcast.”
“I mean, I guess I would,” he admitted. “But I haven’t been asked and I’m not asking them, you know? I’m not asking anybody.”
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Fridman suspected that Trump was openly negotiating to get on the show.
“No, it’s not really a negotiation,” Trump replied. “And he’s kind of a liberal guy, I guess, as far as I know.”
Rogan has historically distanced himself from both major political parties, but has shared some controversial political opinions over the years on his podcast and stand-up comedy.
“I don’t think there was any tension and I’ve always liked him. But I don’t know him,” Trump told Lex Fridman on his podcast released Tuesday. “The only time I see him is when I walk into the arena with Dana (White) and I shake his hand. I see him there and I think he’s good at what he does, but I don’t know if I should do his podcast.”
The podcaster posts his conversations on the YouTube channel The Joe Rogan Experience, which has 17.3 million followers. His conversations regularly receive hundreds of thousands to millions of views and listens.
Any presidential candidate who manages to get a spot on Rogan’s podcast will have a large and diverse audience.
An episode set to air on June 14, 2024, featured Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who last month suspended his independent bid for the White House and endorsed Trump.
On August 9, Trump posted the following message on his social media platform Truth Social: “It would be interesting to see how hard Joe Rogan gets booed the next time he steps into the UFC ring??? MAGA 2024.”
Fridman asked Trump about this report.
“He likes Kennedy, that was before — I found out before Kennedy came to us. He’s going to be great. I like that he likes Kennedy. I do too,” Trump said. “You know, he’s a different kind of guy. He’s got some great things going on and I think he — outside of politics — I think he can be quite influential in resolving some situations.”
Trump posted last month that he thought Joe Rogan would be “booed” the next time he went to a UFC match
When asked to provide insight into the psychology behind his social media posts, Trump admitted that he sometimes regrets what he puts out into the world.
Fridman questioned whether Trump is being “intentionally provocative” or simply “speaking his mind.”
“Are there times when you regret certain truths?” the podcast host asked.
“Yes, I do,” he replied. “But not very often, to be honest.”
“I do a lot of reposting. The ones that get you in trouble are the reposts… if you use your own words it’s a lot easier.”