Joe Rogan says endorsing Trump seems like a mistake after seeing the ICE raids spiral out of control
Joe Rogan, one of the most listened-to voices in U.S. media, is beginning to turn on President Donald Trump—and it’s over something personal: immigration raids.
Rogan, who publicly endorsed Trump just before the 2024 election, now says he was misled. Known for defending free speech and opposing cancel culture, the podcaster is now accusing Trump of betraying key values he promised to uphold.
“We were told there would be…,” Rogan started on his July 2 episode of The Joe Rogan Experience, before stopping to rethink his phrasing. “There’s two things that are insane. One is the targeting of migrant workers, not cartel members, not gang members, not drug dealers, just construction workers showing up at construction sites, raiding them. Gardeners. Like, really?”
His guest, Amjad Masad, founder and CEO of Replit, echoed the concern. The pair discussed Trump’s revived immigration policies, especially in the context of growing tension over Gaza and campus speech crackdowns in the U.S.
Masad pointed to ICE targeting students on political grounds, particularly Palestinian youth. “Did you see the video of the Turkish student at Tufts University who wrote an essay?” he asked.
Rogan, sounding stunned, replied: “It was just critical of Israel, right? And that’s enough to get you kicked out of the country?”
The conversation highlighted rising fears that criticism of Israel, even in academic settings, is now being treated as grounds for deportation or visa revocation under Trump’s new immigration clampdown.
From Endorsement to Regret
Back on November 4, 2024—just hours before polls opened—Rogan endorsed Trump on social media, amplifying Elon Musk’s pro-Trump stance to his millions of listeners.
“The great and powerful @elonmusk. If it wasn’t for him we’d be fucked,” Rogan wrote. “He makes what I think is the most compelling case for Trump you’ll hear, and I agree with him every step of the way. For the record, yes, that’s an endorsement of Trump.”
The post went viral, racking up more than 50 million views. But now, less than a year later, Rogan is expressing serious regret.
The great and powerful @elonmusk.
— Joe Rogan (@joerogan) November 5, 2024
If it wasn't for him we'd be fucked. He makes what I think is the most compelling case for Trump you'll hear, and I agree with him every step of the way.
For the record, yes, that's an endorsement of Trump.
Enjoy the podcast pic.twitter.com/LdBxZFVsLN
He emphasized that he still won’t vote for Kamala Harris, but says he feels misled. Rather than focusing on violent criminals, Trump’s policies appear to be targeting everyday immigrants—legal residents, students, even landscapers.
Trump’s Promises vs. Trump’s Reality
Throughout the campaign, Trump had vowed to focus mass deportations on gang members and criminals. His rallies featured mugshots of alleged MS-13 members and talked about “cleaning up the streets.”
But the numbers now tell a different story. ICE’s own data and court filings reveal many recent arrests have involved people with no criminal history at all.
That’s what has Rogan speaking out. Known for championing authenticity, he says Trump’s latest moves feel less like law enforcement and more like authoritarianism.
“Fascism is the response almost always to communism,” Rogan said during the episode, quoting Columbia student Anthony Rispo. “What we experience in this country is this continual overcorrection. Overcorrection to the left, then overcorrection to the right, to counter that.”
Rogan seems to be wondering if Trump’s overcorrection has gone too far—and if what was sold as populism now resembles outright fascism.
Thanks @joerogan for shouting me out on @joeroganhq !! pic.twitter.com/gTV7MRgRWq
— Anthony Rispo (@anthony_rispo) July 3, 2025
Cracks in the “Bro Alliance”
Rogan isn’t alone in his discontent. Elon Musk, who previously ran Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), has become one of Trump’s fiercest critics since the “One Big Beautiful Bill” passed. That legislation gutted EV tax credits, environmental programs, and key immigration protections.
Musk has gone so far as to threaten launching a third political party. And while Trump may shrug off Musk’s rebellion, losing Rogan could be more damaging.
The reason? They share the same audience: anti-establishment voters, libertarians, disaffected men, and independents tired of both political parties.
If those voters are forced to choose between Trump’s hardline policies and Rogan’s more open-ended critique of power, it could reshape the political landscape heading into 2026.
