Podcaster Joe Rogan said Thursday that President Donald Trump’s strategy in Iran “doesn’t make sense,” renewing his criticism of the conflict just days after appearing beside Trump at a White House signing ceremony for an executive order on psychedelic-drug research.
Rogan Questions Ceasefire And Wider Strategy
Rogan made the remarks on “The Joe Rogan Experience” during a conversation with Australian comedian James McCann. When McCann asked whether things were “going to be OK,” Rogan replied, “No one … knows,” then added with a sigh, “I mean, what’s going on with the Iran — the ceasefire? Supposedly, they extended, but then they’re shooting at ships.”
His comments came after Trump said on Tuesday that he would indefinitely extend the ceasefire with Iran at Pakistan’s request, hours before the previous two-week truce was due to expire. Trump also said the United States would keep its naval blockade in the Strait of Hormuz in place, even as Iran and the U.S. traded accusations over attacks on commercial shipping and stalled diplomacy.
Doubts On Trump’s Endgame In Iran
McCann questioned what the war was meant to achieve, including whether Washington was pursuing regime change. Rogan answered that he did not understand why the administration launched the first strikes when it did. “People have wanted people out of Iran, the people that are running Iran, for 47 years, but no one has actually gone and done it the way this administration did,” Rogan said. “And it doesn’t make sense they choose to do it when they did.”
A few minutes later, he said he assumed the administration was trying to negotiate but added that he did not know how any of it would end. Rogan also suggested Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s influence may have helped push Trump into the conflict, saying, “Why did we do it? I don’t know, I think because of Israel, if I had to guess.”
Rogan also sounded doubtful that Washington had a clear endgame. He said he wondered what an exit would look like and whether the U.S. could end up with troops in the region for years or paying to rebuild infrastructure destroyed in the fighting.
Trump Ally Grows More Publicly Critical
Rogan, who endorsed Trump on Nov. 4, 2024, the day before Election Day, has grown more critical during Trump’s second term. In March, Rogan said many supporters felt “betrayed” because Trump had campaigned on “no more wars” and an “America First” message. He also suggested in early April that the war in Iran may have distracted from domestic controversies.
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