Donald Trump’s recent appearance on The Joe Rogan Experience has taken the internet by storm, hitting over 28 million views within just two days. Released right before the 2024 election, this podcast episode became an instant sensation, drawing massive crowds to both Spotify and YouTube. Rogan’s platform, already popular, has seen even more traffic, with the episode skyrocketing to one of the most-watched in the show’s history.
Trump’s appearance on Rogan’s podcast wasn’t always a given. Rogan had initially voiced resistance to hosting Trump, once saying he wasn’t interested in assisting him politically. However, times have changed, and Rogan recently shifted his stance, noting the conversation turned out to be a “great podcast.” In a TikTok promotion, Trump commented on the experience as well, saying they’d had “a good time,” giving the impression of a relaxed yet wide-ranging chat that explored more than just campaign talking points.
During the nearly three-hour conversation, Trump and Rogan dove into a medley of topics, from Trump’s biggest regrets during his presidency to the bizarre and often underreported attempts on his life. Rogan even led the discussion to the possibility of extraterrestrial life—a conversation starter Trump took with his usual flair, musing that there’s “no reason not to think” aliens exist. The episode shows Trump, never one to shy away from the unusual, wading into a variety of subjects, engaging Rogan’s famously broad listener base.
For Rogan, Trump’s visit adds to a guest roster that includes other major figures, like Edward Snowden, Dr. Jordan Peterson, and astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson—all of whom have drawn millions of views. Rogan’s most famous episode, featuring Elon Musk lighting up a joint in 2018, currently holds the title with over 68 million views. Trump’s episode, however, is already closing in on some of Rogan’s biggest hits, capturing both the politically engaged and the casually curious.
With this appearance, Trump finds himself in good company on one of America’s top-rated shows, hosted by a figure who famously resonates with the very audiences Trump courts. If anything, the timing of the episode and its huge reach underline Trump’s knack for the unconventional, choosing a platform where he can speak off the cuff just days before Americans head to the polls. The episode has left the media and political pundits speculating not only about the topics discussed but also about what this kind of exposure could mean for Trump in the homestretch of his campaign.
