Will Trump’s Joe Rogan interview help win White House? analysts’ verdicts

Former President Donald Trump sat down for an anticipated three-hour interview on The Joe Rogan Experience, on October 25, 2024, marking his first appearance on the popular podcast.

The interview with Joe Rogan covered a broad range of topics and the podcast, which was released on Spotify and YouTube, quickly gained over 40 million views.

Throughout the interview, Trump made criticisms of Vice President Kamala Harris, describing her as “a very low IQ person” and speculating that she would “be laying on the floor comatose” if she were subjected to a rigorous interview with Rogan.

Trump also discussed his stance on illegal immigration, arguing that communities impacted by immigration are experiencing increased challenges, while advocating for migrants to be “returned to their country” rather than integrated.

Prior to hosting Trump, Rogan had been vocal about his reluctance to invite the former president on The Joe Rogan Experience. Rogan’s concerns stemmed from his wish to maintain his show as a balanced platform, rather than one endorsing any particular candidate.

However, as the 2024 election approached, Rogan’s stance shifted, perhaps influenced by Trump’s campaign push to reach younger, predominantly male voters who view Rogan’s podcast as an alternative to traditional mainstream media.

Analysts have weighed in on the impact of this interview for both Rogan and Trump.

Jane Hall, Associate Professor, School of Communication, American University

Trump’s appearance on Rogan’s podcast plays into Trump’s strategy of bypassing traditional media to reach a demographic disenchanted with mainstream outlets. Rogan’s platform enabled Trump to reinforce his populist messages without the usual critical scrutiny he faces elsewhere.

Andrew Selepak, PhD, Social Media, College of Journalism and Communications

Donald Trump’s appearance on the Joe Rogan podcast was positive for his campaign for multiple reasons. In a tight race where a few thousand votes across key swing states could determine the outcome, the interview attracted over 40 million views on YouTube alone.

Many of those viewers may be swing voters, and the three-hour, unscripted format allowed Trump to engage directly with Rogan’s large, diverse audience.

Rogan also posted the interview to X where it got another 17 million views. Trump’s appearance also highlighted a key talking point, the assumption that Harris is unwilling to do interviews to discuss her record with unfriendly media.

Rogan addressed this on X, explaining that Harris had declined an in-studio interview, requesting a one-hour session that her handlers would attend, limiting Rogan’s control over the interview.

Lastly, Rogan highlighted another Republican concern: potential election influence by big tech companies. He noted that some viewers reported difficulty finding his interview with Trump on YouTube, which he suggested aligns with allegations of tech bias against conservative viewpoints.

Rogan’s claim not only supports the Republican talking point, but also correlates to campaign donations by Google employees, which owns YouTube, to the Harris campaign, according to Quiver Quantitative.

Overall, Trump scored a win by being on the podcast because of how many people saw it in such a close race, and with millions of views and Rogan’s points about Harris’s media approach and potential tech bias, Rogan’s platform reinforced Trump’s messaging in a closely contested race.

Alfred Hermida, PhD, Professor, School of Journalism, University of British Columbia

Donald Trump’s interview with Joe Rogan is unlikely to influence swing voters. But that was unlikely to be the intention behind the interview. I believe that Trump decided to speak with Rogan to solidify his male vote. The podcast gave him a powerful platform to reach one of his core demographics—young men—as half of Joe Rogan’s audience is men under 34.

Trump was classic Trump in the interview, regurgitating the usual falsehoods about the 2020 election, immigration, and more. At this late stage of the campaign, both candidates need to avoid any gaffes that could be used against them.

Scott Talan, Professor of Communication

From Joe Rogan’s perspective, bringing Trump on his podcast was a hit. Huge numbers watched, and he increased his subscribers too. For Trump, it isn’t as clear. We are unable to tell if any undecided voters watched. If so, were they persuaded to support him?

Brian Rosenwald, Coeditor-in-Chief, Made by History, The Washington Post

Following Trump’s interview with Rogan, the reviews have been very mixed. Some folks think it was perfect for Trump because the relaxed format allowed him be personable and showcase his humor. It shattered the perception that the Harris campaign is trying to inculcate of him being a fascist who poses a dire threat to the U.S.

Others, including Harris’s campaign, think some of his answers were deeply damaging, and have voiced that. What is certain: Rogan’s audience is the one that Trump is assiduously courting: young men, who may not be ideologically right-wing but are tired of “wokeness.” Going on the podcast with Rogan was absolutely the right move for Trump, but it’s very difficult to determine if it was a hit.

Dr. Stephen J. Farnsworth, Professor of Political Science and International Affairs

Former President Trump’s Joe Rogan interview was an effective way to reach a group of potential voters that Republicans very much need to reach. The challenge for both campaigns throughout the fall has been to connect with voters who are not all that likely to participate and get them off the fence—and off the couch. If Trump wins, it will largely be as a result of his aggressive outreach efforts to younger male voters who can connect with Trump’s anger about the current state of the country.

This appearance underscores Trump’s continuing efforts to strategically target platforms and demographics outside the traditional media sphere, but whether it sways undecided voters or merely energizes his existing base remains a topic of intense debate.