In what may turn out to be the most significant internet phenomenon in recent political history, former President Donald Trump sat down with iconic podcast host Joe Rogan for a three-hour interview. If the political left was hoping that Trump would show his age, go on a rant, or say wild things that could later be used as negative snippets, they were sorely disappointed. With much of the nation’s vote already decided or baked in, the event may or may not move the needle. However, in terms of speculation that Trump lacks mental acuity, that is a narrative that didn’t survive the interview.
A History Lesson
Far from being a stump speech, Trump used the opportunity to relax and expound on topics that rarely see the light of day during a presidential campaign. He began by talking about the surreal feeling of walking into the White House as a fresh president, before detouring into talking about the sadness of Abraham and Mary Todd Lincoln and the death of their son, Tad. He demonstrated a grasp of history and an insight into Lincoln’s issues with defeating Robert E. Lee, which he suggested was a case of the “yips.”
Trump being Trump, much of the history lesson was of a more personal bent. He discussed his business career and its influence on his policies and his first presidential campaign.
His now-famous “weave” was on full display, beginning with one topic, then moving to two or three others before returning to the original point. Talk of tariffs flowed into discussions on environmentalism, with a brief segue into California Governor Gavin Newsom’s dealings with China, before coming full circle to why ditching income tax compares preferably to using tariffs to fund the government. It was a distinct and palpable difference from his opponent, Kamala Harris, who seemingly has difficulty even sticking to a pre-planned talking point.
Joe Rogan – despite accusations of being “far right” – has always been a political centrist with a more liberal outlook. Above all, he is known as a polite but incisive interviewer with a talent for getting the best out of his guests. This show was no different. He rolled with the weave and asked follow-up questions that actually provided insight into the former president’s thoughts and hopes.
Interviews with politicians on the campaign trail tend to follow two tracks: Either they are softball setups to flatter the candidate, or “gotcha” questions to try to destroy a candidate’s momentum. This was neither. While there was plenty of policy talk, the proposals and platform pieces were incidental to the conversation.
Fun and Frolics on Rogan
It wouldn’t be a Trump event without a little humor, and the internet was apparently ready to make memes, flattering or otherwise, about some of the former president’s more interesting one-liners, whether that’s saying, “I want to be a whale psychologist” or declaring that the show is too valuable to waste time “talking about concrete,” before proceeding to talk about concrete for ten minutes. The wide-ranging nature of the chat will almost certainly be a source of social media fun for years to come.
Overall, Mr. Trump was in fine form and genuinely seemed to be enjoying himself – to the point where one wonders if he would have continued talking for another hour or more had he not been campaigning for president. As Liberty Nation News reported earlier:
“Donald Trump will either win or lose the next election. But he will forever be able to revel in the heady days of crisscrossing the country, speaking to crowds in the thousands who adore his brand of wit and politics. His Joe Rogan session may not sway the voters to his cause, and his unique style of campaign could become a cautionary lesson for future candidates. But he will, without doubt, be able to invoke the famous lyrics of Frank Sinatra and definitively say he did it his way.”
A New Audience
The Joe Rogan Experience is the most-watched podcast show in internet history, and this episode is likely to break more records. His audience is largely young men, who, most importantly, tend to be independents. This overlooked demographic could prove crucial in making up margins in swing states, and it is almost certain that there was – as the saying goes – something for everyone in this show.
But it was Rogan himself who perhaps made the most hard-hitting pitch of the episode when he veered into talks of the culture wars engulfing America. He said:
“The rebels are Republicans now. You want to be punk rock? You want to buck the system? You are conservative now. The liberals are now pro-silencing criticism. They are pro-censorship. They talk about regulating free speech. It’s bananas to watch.”
Whether Trump makes a return to the Oval Office or not, his 2024 campaign will make history as one of the most open, engaging, and entertaining spectacles of the modern political age. And it seems highly likely that he has set a new bar for what is expected of all presidential hopefuls going forward. If a candidate can’t sit for an unscripted three-hour extravaganza, how can they handle the rigors of running the most powerful nation on earth? Win or lose, politics is now a very different animal.
