Podcast host Joe Rogan’s recent comments on Robert Kennedy Jr., which were misconstrued as an endorsement, have ignited a firestorm, including backlash from former President Donald Trump and his supporters.
What Happened: On a recent episode of his podcast “The Joe Rogan Experience,” Rogan expressed admiration for independent presidential candidate Robert Kennedy Jr., calling him “the only” candidate who “makes sense.” However, Rogan clarified on Friday that his comments were not an endorsement, but rather an appreciation for Kennedy Jr.’s approach to political discourse.
“For the record, this isn't an endorsement. This is me saying that I like RFKjr as a person, and I really appreciate the way he discusses things with civility and intelligence. I think we could use more of that in this world,” Rogan wrote on X on Friday.
“I also think Trump raising his fist and saying "fight!" after getting shot is one of the most American f*****g things of all time. I'm not the guy to get political information from…”
Despite Rogan’s clarification, Trump and his supporters continued to lambast the podcast host online. Trump took to Truth Social to express his disapproval, while his allies suggested that Rogan could only redeem himself by inviting Trump to his podcast.
Some people also supported Rogan. Influencer Joey Swoll shared his experience of being attacked for “endorsing” Kennedy Jr. a couple of months ago and advocated for being kind and making friends with people who have different beliefs without judging or attacking them.
“We need to stop trying to separate/divide this country based off political parties or who you vote for,” Swoll wrote.
Why It Matters: Rogan’s comments have stirred controversy due to his significant influence and the overlap between his audience demographics and Trump’s voter base. Rogan, while publicly expressing his admiration for Kennedy Jr. over any major party candidates on his podcast, criticized both Democrats and Republicans for distorting democratic norms.
Following Rogan’s comments, Trump mocked the podcast host on Truth Social, questioning how loudly Rogan would be booed the next time he entered the UFC Ring.
Political consultant Mike Madrid told The New York Times that Rogan’s praise for Kennedy Jr. could potentially detract from Trump’s base. However, Rogan has not officially endorsed any candidate for the 2024 presidential election.
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Photo courtesy: Joe Rogan Experience
This story was generated using Benzinga Neuro and edited by Pooja Rajkumari
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