Joe Rogan has publicly criticized U.S. President Donald Trump’s latest immigration enforcement policy, describing recent scenes of mass deportations as “horrific” and warning that “no reasonable person” could support the current approach.
The remarks came during a recent episode of The Joe Rogan Experience, where Rogan and comedian Duncan Trussell discussed the Trump administration’s ongoing immigration operations and the moral consequences of mass deportations.
The controversy follows a string of tense public exchanges between Rogan and Trump in recent months, as the once-amicable relationship between the two appears to have cooled.
From Supporter to Critic
Rogan, 57, who endorsed Trump during the 2024 presidential campaign and even hosted him on his podcast ahead of the election, has long been viewed as an influential figure among independent voters. His willingness to engage with guests across the political spectrum — from Elon Musk to Bernie Sanders — has made The Joe Rogan Experience one of the most listened-to podcasts in the world.
But Rogan’s tone toward the Trump administration has shifted since the president’s re-election. The UFC commentator and comedian voiced frustration with what he called “unnecessary cruelty” in immigration enforcement and “selective transparency” surrounding the Epstein files — two issues that have drawn intense national scrutiny in Trump’s second term.
In his latest episode, Rogan expressed disbelief at the human cost of recent deportation operations. “No one with a heart is going to go along with that,” Rogan said. “I did not ever anticipate seeing that on TV on a regular basis.”
He added that he initially believed Trump’s immigration plan would target violent criminals. “I really thought they were just going to go after the gang members, the MS-13 guys, and whoever else they were looking for,” he said. “But now you’re seeing families being torn apart, people who’ve lived here 20 or 30 years being shipped away. That’s not what anyone signed up for.”
A “Horrific” Policy and the Human Toll
The discussion came amid reports that agents with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) have arrested more than 3,000 people in New Jersey alone, part of a nationwide operation under the Department of Homeland Security’s stated goal of deporting one million undocumented immigrants annually.
Rogan’s guest, comedian Duncan Trussell, voiced outrage at the scale and approach of the policy. “There must be a way to do this that doesn’t involve ripping parents out of their communities and away from their children,” he said. “These are people who’ve been contributing to American society. You can’t just send them to countries they don’t even remember.”
Rogan agreed, calling the images emerging from cities like Chicago, Dallas, and Los Angeles “disturbing.”
“If you’ve been here for 25 years, have a family, your kids go to school here, and you’ve built a life — but you don’t have papers — that doesn’t make you the enemy,” Rogan said. “It’s crazy to uproot people who’ve been part of the community for decades. That shows no heart.”
He continued, “You’re not going to get any reasonable person to want to go along with that. Any kind person would look at this and say, ‘This can’t be the only way to do this.’”
The remarks struck a chord with listeners, many of whom took to social media to praise Rogan for addressing what they described as “the human cost of hardline policies.” Others, particularly within Trump’s base, accused him of “turning soft” and “abandoning the movement.”
Rogan vs. Trump on Transparency and the Epstein Files
This is not the first time Rogan has criticized the Trump administration in recent months. In a separate episode released on July 25, Rogan accused Trump of “trying to gaslight” his supporters over the release of the Epstein files — a collection of documents related to the late financier Jeffrey Epstein’s criminal activities and associates.
“This one’s a line in the sand,” Rogan told guest Mike Baker, a former CIA covert operations officer. “We thought Trump was going to come in, drain the swamp, and expose everything. When it comes to Epstein, people expected full transparency. But now it feels like they’re trying to gaslight the public.”
Rogan was referring to the Department of Justice’s decision earlier this year to release a limited batch of 341 pages of previously declassified documents — most of which were already publicly available. Critics said the release failed to meet Trump’s repeated campaign promises of total transparency regarding Epstein’s network and its alleged political ties.
Epstein, who died in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges, was known to have socialized with several high-profile figures — including Trump himself in the 1990s and early 2000s, though the president has denied any wrongdoing or involvement in Epstein’s crimes.
Rogan expressed disappointment at what he called “selective openness.” “If you’re going to promise truth and accountability, you can’t hide behind redactions,” he said. “That’s the kind of thing that erodes trust — especially among people who believed in you.”
Trump Responds
When asked about Rogan’s criticism during a press conference in August, Trump struck a conciliatory tone. “I like Joe a lot,” he said. “We don’t always agree, but I respect that he speaks his mind.”
Regarding Rogan’s earlier remarks on immigration, Trump said he “understood the concern” but defended the policy’s intent.
“We want to be careful. We are careful,” Trump said. “The goal is to protect the country and keep Americans safe, and that’s what we’re doing. We’re not targeting good people — we’re targeting the criminals who shouldn’t be here in the first place.”
Still, White House communications director Steven Cheung previously characterized Rogan’s comments as “uninformed,” insisting that the administration’s policies are “focused on restoring order and protecting American families.”
A Relationship That’s Changed with Time
The tension between Rogan and Trump marks a notable shift from their earlier camaraderie. The two appeared together publicly at several UFC events in 2024 and 2025, with cameras capturing them shaking hands and exchanging brief embraces ringside. Rogan at the time praised Trump as “a guy who actually talks like a human being,” and Trump, in turn, called Rogan “a great voice for the people.”
But as the administration’s tone hardened on immigration and transparency issues, Rogan’s skepticism grew. His willingness to publicly challenge the president reflects a broader trend among some of Trump’s early supporters, who have expressed disillusionment with aspects of his second-term agenda.
“Joe’s not afraid to call it like he sees it,” said one longtime producer of The Joe Rogan Experience. “He liked Trump for shaking things up — but he’s never been a party-line guy. If something looks wrong, he’ll say it.”
Balancing Influence and Accountability
With millions of listeners worldwide, Rogan remains one of the most influential voices in American media — and one of the few mainstream figures capable of shaping discourse across political lines. His criticisms of Trump’s immigration tactics and handling of the Epstein files underscore how his podcast continues to serve as both a cultural mirror and a pressure valve for public frustration.
At one point in the recent episode, Rogan summed up his feelings about political power and moral responsibility:
“We’ve got to be careful we don’t become monsters while we’re fighting monsters,” he said. “You can be tough on crime and still have compassion. You can protect your country and still protect people who’ve made it their home.”
Whether his words will influence the administration’s approach remains to be seen. But in a political landscape increasingly defined by polarization, Rogan’s break from the president he once supported illustrates something rare: a willingness to evolve in public — and to question power, no matter who holds it.
Emily Johnson is a critically acclaimed essayist and novelist known for her thought-provoking works centered on feminism, women’s rights, and modern relationships. Born and raised in Portland, Oregon, Emily grew up with a deep love of books, often spending her afternoons at her local library. She went on to study literature and gender studies at UCLA, where she became deeply involved in activism and began publishing essays in campus journals. Her debut essay collection, Voices Unbound, struck a chord with readers nationwide for its fearless exploration of gender dynamics, identity, and the challenges faced by women in contemporary society. Emily later transitioned into fiction, writing novels that balance compelling storytelling with social commentary. Her protagonists are often strong, multidimensional women navigating love, ambition, and the struggles of everyday life, making her a favorite among readers who crave authentic, relatable narratives. Critics praise her ability to merge personal intimacy with universal themes. Off the page, Emily is an advocate for women in publishing, leading workshops that encourage young female writers to embrace their voices. She lives in Seattle with her partner and two rescue cats, where she continues to write, teach, and inspire a new generation of storytellers.
