Joe Rogan turns on Trump and calls Iran strikes Insane as fans ask what happened to no more wars. (Photo by Getty Images)
Joe Rogan is not exactly known for holding back, especially when something in politics does not add up to him. On a recent episode of his hugely popular podcast, Rogan openly questioned President Donald Trump’s decision to launch strikes in Iran, calling the situation confusing and even “insane” considering how Trump campaigned.
The comments came during a conversation with author and journalist Michael Shellenberger. The two were discussing the growing conflict involving Iran and the uncertainty around what the White House is actually trying to accomplish. Shellenberger explained that he had even scrapped a column he was writing about the war because the reasoning behind it felt unclear.
“But it’s not clear that they’re really out for regime change or they’re just asserting power,” he explained. “I mean, some of it’s art of the deal, changing the person that we’re negotiating with. That’s Venezuela and Iran. Is it really going to change those regimes? I don’t think — most people don’t think so, but I’m not sure that that’s what they’re going for.”
That uncertainty is exactly what seemed to bother Rogan the most.
“Well, neither thing made any sense to me,” Rogan replied. “The Venezuela thing, I mean, look, they wanted him out forever.”
Rogan then started comparing the situation to another controversial move involving Venezuela before pivoting back to the escalating situation in the Middle East.
“They go in, kidnap him, get him out,” he continued. “This one’s nuts. Like, and what’s happening in Tel Aviv. It’s hard to know what’s real and what’s not because there’s a lot of fake video going around and a lot of weird posts on X.”
The broader conflict has been dominating headlines after the United States and Israel began launching strikes on Iranian targets, escalating tensions across the region. According to reports from outlets like the Associated Press and coverage in Newsweek, the conflict has already resulted in significant casualties and sparked debate over the operation’s long-term goals.
Shellenberger pushed back slightly during the podcast discussion, arguing that even if some people believe regime change is the goal, that may not actually be the strategy driving the administration.
“They might say that we want that or whatever, but that’s not ultimately; they’re not acting on the basis of achieving regime change,” Shellenberger insisted.
But Rogan circled right back to the political messaging that surrounded Trump’s campaign. For him, that is where the disconnect becomes impossible to ignore.
“But just seems so insane based on what he ran on,” Rogan remarked. “I mean, this is why a lot of people feel betrayed, right? He ran on no more wars and these stupid, senseless wars, and then we have one that we can’t even really clearly defined why we did it.”
That sentiment reflects a broader debate within parts of Trump’s own political base. Some supporters backed him precisely because he promised to end what he often called America’s “endless wars.” Now, with military action underway, questions are popping up about whether the administration’s strategy aligns with those promises. Analysts and commentators have been discussing that divide across outlets like The Independent and Forbes as the situation unfolds.
Rogan’s podcast reaches millions of listeners each episode, so comments like these rarely go unnoticed. And because Rogan previously hosted Trump on his show and even endorsed him before the 2024 election, his criticism stands out even more in the ongoing conversation about the war and what comes next.
