Donald Trump makes a 3-hour appearance on Joe Rogan’s podcast: Key takeaways
Donald Trump appeared on "The Joe Rogan Experience" on Friday, giving the former president a platform to speak directly to Rogan’s millions of listeners.
The nation’s most listened-to podcaster pressed the former president on whether he’s "completely committed" to bringing Robert F. Kennedy Jr., into his administration.
"Oh, I completely am," Trump responded. "But the only thing I want to be a little careful about with him is the environmental. Because he doesn’t like oil, I love oil and gas."
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He said he’ll tell Kennedy to "focus on health, do whatever you want." Trump said he’s faced pressure not to work with Kennedy, citing "big Pharma" as one example.
Kennedy has been instrumental in spreading skepticism about vaccines, rejecting the overwhelming consensus among scientists that the benefits of inoculations outweigh the rare risk of side effects.
He also claims pharmaceutical companies conspire to prevent health improvements because they make so much money selling drugs to people with chronic illnesses.
Rogan also is skeptical of vaccines. Trump noted that "they’ve come up with some amazing things" such as the polio vaccine.
The lengthy interview, recorded in Austin, Texas, is the latest move by Trump’s campaign to engage younger voters through unconventional media channels. Rogan’s audience aligns closely with Trump’s target demographic of male voters under 45, making it an ideal venue for his campaign message.
Trump’s appearance comes just days before Election Day, with polls showing a tight race. The interview, which stretched nearly three hours, marks a clear shift from traditional news outlets to podcasts and online platforms where Trump has prioritized reaching his base audience.
Harris and Trump both leverage podcast strategy in 2024 race
Trump’s Rogan interview is part of a larger trend in this campaign cycle, with presidential candidates focusing on podcasts as a way to reach targeted audiences. Unlike mainstream interviews, podcasts allow candidates extended, unfiltered conversations with niche audiences.
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What election issues matter to Gen Z voters?
Presidential candidate Kamala Harris leads among Gen-Z voters, according to the latest FOX News poll. Both campaigns recognize that demographic could tip the scale in big battleground states. LiveNOW's Andrew Craft spoke about the issues that matter to young voters with Shaela Patel, a student at Arizona State University.
Earlier this year, Trump appeared on popular influencer podcasts hosted by Adin Ross and Logan Paul, drawing millions of younger listeners.
Vice President Kamala Harris has followed a similar approach, recently appearing on "Call Her Daddy," a top podcast among women, and on Shannon Sharpe’s "Club Shay Shay" to discuss key campaign issues.
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In the tight 2024 race, both campaigns are relying heavily on new media as traditional outlets like "60 Minutes" have been largely replaced by podcasts with dedicated followings.
This story is developing. Check back for more information.