Popular host of The Joe Rogan Experience podcast Joe Rogan has publicly pledged his support for former President Donald Trump in the 2024 election in a dramatic final-hour twist. Rogan, who has a large reach to younger and independent audiences, is certainly big news for the Trump campaign only hours before Election Day.
Rogan went on air on Monday hosting billionaire Elon Musk over a two-and-half-hour-long conversation where he shared his take on the podcast. Politics, technology, and the future of the United States dominated the episode. After that, Rogan went to X (formerly Twitter), where he was singing the praises of Musk’s case for re-electing Trump. “The great and powerful Elon Musk. If it weren’t for him, we’d be f**ked,” 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.” Rogan explained, “For the record, yes, that’s an endorsement of Trump.”
This endorsement lines up Rogan’s brand, appealing to every kind of libertarian, conservative, and independent-minded voter he reaches, with what Trump is trying to do long-term in reaching younger voters and getting traditionally independent listeners energized. Over the last few years, Rogan has become a major media figure, reaching millions a week, which gives his endorsement significance among groups that typically avoid mainstream political news.
In a speech at a campaign rally in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on Monday night, Trump acknowledged the endorsement. “It just came over the wires that Joe Rogan just endorsed me. Is that great? Thank you, Joe. That’s so nice. And he doesn’t do that; he doesn’t do that stuff, folks,” Trump said to a cheering crowd. His campaign responded immediately to social media, proclaiming Rogan’s endorsement a huge harbinger of what was going to happen as Election Day approached. Because Rogan’s listenership skews more independent and liberal-leaning, the endorsement is key; Trump told the reporter this was a chance to reach people beyond the ordinary Republican crowd.
This is yet another critical moment for the Trump campaign in that it has become the news of national and international interest in places other than the media channels used to communicate daily. This was one of the high points in the campaign earlier when Rogan interviewed Trump: This time will be strategically critical, as his podcast is often noted for drawing young men and other demographics, normally targeted by the brand Rogan, into candid conversations on wide-ranging social and political issues that can influence listeners. According to Trump’s advisers, the interview and endorsement were crucial in reaching undecided voters.
What is noteworthy is that this endorsement comes after the social media rants by Rogan where he mentioned that he turned down an offer from Kamala Harris’s campaign for an interview. According to a statement, he said that while he would like to be interviewed, the logistics wouldn’t work with his desire to invite the guests into his Austin, Texas, studio to have a meaningful conversation. “The Harris campaign had offered a date for Tuesday, but I’d have had to travel to her, and they only wanted to do an hour,” Rogan said. “I strongly feel the best way to do it is in the studio in Austin.”
The Harris campaign said nothing publicly about Rogan’s comments. But even the timing of the endorsement by Rogan of Trump only adds to the layering of last-minute campaign strategies. A strong voice for conservative and libertarian audiences, Rogan has been known for candid takes on current issues that often straddle political lines. Endorsing Trump, in this case, makes a statement that is likely to influence voters who remain undecided or are more generally disengaged from mainstream political media.
Their independent thinking attracts millions of listeners toward him, which is particularly helpful for Trump because Rogan has a strong audience among young men who are polling well for Trump; his support can make all the difference in the last hours of campaigning.
The Trump team views this endorsement as an important seal of approval and strengthens the media strategy of the campaign, which is aimed at pushing its message to wider, more subtle audiences through alternative platforms.
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