Will Trump’s interview help Joe Rogan win the White House? Analysts’ verdicts

Former president Donald Trump sat down for the expected three-hour interview Joe Rogan’s Experience, on October 25, 2024, marking his first appearance on the popular podcast.

Interview with Joe Rogan covered a wide range of topics, and the podcast, which was published on Spotify and YouTube, quickly amassed over 40 million views.

During the interview, Trump criticized the vice president Kamala Harrisdescribing her as “a person with a very low IQ” and suggesting that she would “lying on the floor in a comatose state” if she passed a rigorous interview with Rogan.

Trump also discussed his stance on illegal immigration, arguing that communities affected by immigration face increasing problems while advocating that migrants be “returned to their country” rather than integrated.

Before hosting Trump, Rogan was open about his reluctance to invite the former president The Joe Rogan Experience. Rogan’s concern stemmed from his desire to maintain his show as a balanced platform rather than endorsing any particular candidate.

However, as the 2024 election approaches, Rogan’s position has shifted, perhaps influenced by Trump’s campaign to reach younger, mostly male voters who view Rogan’s podcast as an alternative to traditional mainstream media.

Analysts weighed the impact of this interview on both Rogan and Trump.

Jane Hall, Associate Professor, School of Communication, American University

Trump’s appearance on Rogan’s podcast plays into Trump’s strategy of bypassing traditional media to reach a demographic disenchanted with mainstream media. Rogan’s platform has allowed Trump to amplify his populist messages without the usual scrutiny he faces elsewhere.

Andrew Selepak, PhD, Social Media, College of Journalism and Communication

Donald Trump’s appearance on Joe Rogan’s podcast was positive for his campaign for several reasons. In a tight race where a few thousand votes in key states could decide the outcome, the interview has garnered more than 40 million views on YouTube alone.

Many of those viewers may be regular voters, and the three-hour, unscripted format allowed Trump to speak directly to Rogan’s large and diverse audience.

Rogan also posted the interview on X, where it has received another 17 million views. Trump’s appearance also underscored a key talking point — the suggestion that Harris is reluctant to give interviews to discuss her history with an unfriendly media.

Rogan addressed the issue on X, explaining that Harris refused to be interviewed in the studio, requesting a one-hour session with her executives present, limiting Rogan’s control over the interview.

Finally, Rogan emphasized something else republican concern: potential influence of big tech companies on elections. He noted that some viewers had reported difficulty finding his interview with Trump on YouTube, which he said was consistent with accusations of technical bias against conservative viewpoints.

Rogan’s claims not only support the Republicans’ thesis, but also correlate with campaign donations Google According to Quiver Quantitative, to the Harris campaign.

Overall, Trump won by being on the podcast because of how many people saw him in such a tight race, and with millions of views and Rogan’s thoughts on Harris’ media approach and potential technical bias, Rogan’s platform strengthened Trump’s message in a closely contested race.

Alfred Hermida, Ph.D., Professor, School of Journalism, University of British Columbia

Donald Trump’s interview with Joe Rogan is unlikely to influence fickle voters. But that was hardly the purpose of the interview. I believe Trump decided to talk to Rogan to strengthen his male voice. The podcast gave him a powerful platform to reach one of his core demographics — young men — as half of Joe Rogan’s audience is men under the age of 34.

Trump was classic Trump in the interview, repeating the usual lies about the 2020 election, immigration, and more. At this late stage of the campaign, both candidates need to avoid any mistakes that could be used against them.

Scott Talan, professor of communication

From Joe Rogan’s point of view, having Trump on his podcast was a hit. Huge number of views and it has also increased the number of followers. For Trump, it is not so clear. We cannot tell if undecided voters were watching. If so, were they persuaded to support him?

Brian Rosenwald, Made by History co-editor, The Washington Post

After Trump’s interview with Rogan, the reviews were very mixed. Some people believe it was perfect for Trump because the relaxed format allowed him to be personal and show off his humor. It debunked the notion that the Harris campaign was trying to install a fascist who posed a serious threat to the U.S.

Others, including the Harris campaign, believe that some of his responses have been highly damaging and have called it out. What’s for sure: Rogan’s audience is one that Trump is diligently courting: young people who may not be ideologically right but are tired of being “woke.” Going on a podcast with Rogan was absolutely the right move for Trump, but it’s very hard to tell if it was a hit.

Dr. Stephen J. Farnsworth, Professor of Political Science and International Relations

Former President Trump’s interview with Joe Rogan was an effective way to reach a group of potential voters republicans much to be achieved. The challenge for both campaigns this fall has been to reach out to voters who aren’t too likely to turn out and get them off the fence — and off the couch. If Trump wins, it will largely be the result of his aggressive efforts to connect with younger male voters, who can relate to Trump’s anger about the current state of the country.

The appearance underscores Trump’s ongoing efforts to strategically target platforms and demographics outside the traditional media sphere, but whether that will sway undecided voters or simply fuel his existing base remains a topic of intense debate.