Donald Trump appeared on “The Joe Rogan Experience” podcast for a three-hour interview on Friday, which was released the same evening.
During the conversation, Trump reflected on his presidency, stating that his greatest error was hiring “bad people or disloyal people.” He reiterated his unfounded assertions that the 2020 election was “rigged.” When asked by Rogan if he planned to provide evidence of election fraud, Trump shifted the topic.
Rogan questioned Trump about whether he had made “bad choices” regarding White House appointments. While he praised his Supreme Court nominees, Trump admitted his “biggest mistake” was selecting some of the wrong individuals. When Rogan probed if Trump meant “neocons,” Trump affirmed, agreeing they were “bad people or disloyal people.”
Trump specifically mentioned two former administration officials: John Kelly, who served as his chief of staff, and John Bolton, his national security adviser. Both individuals have publicly criticized Trump’s actions since their tenure. In a recent interview, Kelly described Trump as meeting the definition of a fascist and noted Trump’s admiration for Adolf Hitler.
In the Rogan interview, Trump characterized Kelly as “a bully but a weak person” and labeled Bolton “an idiot.”
Rogan pressed Trump on his claims of having been robbed in the 2020 election against Joe Biden. When Rogan asked for clarification, Trump claimed, “That election was so crooked, it was the most crooked election.” He suggested that election rules were violated, stating that legislative approval was needed for changes in voting procedures, which he claimed were not obtained in many instances.
Rogan sought examples, and Trump referenced issues in Wisconsin, alleging that ballots were not authenticated properly and suggesting that the election was manipulated. When Rogan asked if Trump would ever present evidence for his claims, Trump deflected, instead discussing Hunter Biden’s laptop. Although the laptop initially sparked controversy, it has been confirmed as belonging to Hunter Biden.
The conversation led to broader discussions, with Rogan noting that “the rebels are Republicans now” and criticizing liberals for being pro-censorship. Trump agreed, asserting that political opponents are targeted similarly to actions seen in “third-world countries.”
The topic of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. came up when Rogan asked if Trump was committed to bringing Kennedy into his administration. Trump responded affirmatively, although he expressed some caution regarding Kennedy’s environmental stance against oil.
The complete episode of “The Joe Rogan Experience” featuring Trump can be found on YouTube and Spotify.
In a post on X, Rogan acknowledged a temporary suspension of the YouTube upload due to a technical issue, clarifying that there was no censorship involved from the platform.