Joe Rogan has backtracked on his praise for Independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr., drawing a comparison to Kyle Rittenhouse’s recent political reversal. The shift comes amid backlash from Republican circles and strong reactions from former President Donald Trump.
During his podcast, Rogan had called Kennedy a “fan” and praised him for his reasoned and civil discourse, criticizing both major parties for undermining democratic norms. “He’s the only one that makes sense to me,” Rogan said of Kennedy on his podcast, “The Joe Rogan Experience.”
Trump responded sharply to Rogan’s remarks. In a post on Truth Social, Trump mocked Rogan, saying, “It will be interesting to see how loudly Joe Rogan gets BOOED the next time he enters the UFC Ring??? MAGA2024.”
The swift backlash prompted Rogan to retract his comments. “For the record, this isn’t an endorsement,” Rogan clarified. “I like RFK Jr. as a person and appreciate the way he discusses things with civility and intelligence. We could use more of that in this world.”
Rogan also sought to soften his stance on Trump, describing Trump’s reaction to his recent assassination attempt as “one of the most American f‑‑‑ing things of all time.” Rogan suggested that listeners looking for political insight should turn to comedian Dave Smith instead.
Rogan’s reversal mirrors the recent political zigzag of Kyle Rittenhouse. Rittenhouse had initially announced he would not support Trump’s presidential bid and intended to write in former Congressman Ron Paul. However, after receiving intense criticism from Trump’s supporters, Rittenhouse reversed his position and endorsed Trump, urging gun owners to support Trump’s reelection campaign.
See Rogan’s remarks and his retraction below:
HAPPENING NOW: Right-wing X is shredding Joe Rogan for "endorsing" Robert F. Kennedy Jr. during his podcast.
The claim: Joe Rogan endorsed Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for president.
What Rogan said: "That's politics. They do it on the left. They do it on the right. They gaslight… pic.twitter.com/vkmd4zFBdd
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) August 9, 2024
For the record, this isn’t an endorsement. This is me saying that I like RFKjr as a person, and I really appreciate the way he discusses things with civility and intelligence.
I think we could use more of that in this world.I also think Trump raising his fist and saying… https://t.co/pzkHe9SKVS
— Joe Rogan (@joerogan) August 9, 2024
