If you’ve spent any time on the internet over the last few years, you know that pinning down Joe Rogan’s politics is like trying to catch a greased pig. One day he’s praising Bernie Sanders, and the next he’s laughing with Elon Musk about the "woke mind virus." It’s chaotic. It’s inconsistent. Honestly, it’s exactly why millions of people tune in. They want to hear a guy who hasn't been programmed by a PR firm.
But when the 2024 election actually rolled around, the speculation reached a fever pitch. People were obsessively refreshing their feeds, asking: who is Joe Rogan voting for? The answer finally dropped on the literal eve of the election, and it wasn't a subtle hint. It was a full-blown endorsement of Donald Trump.
The Last-Minute Bombshell
For years, Rogan famously said he wouldn't have Trump on his show. He called him an "existential threat to democracy" and said he wasn't interested in helping him. Then, the vibe shifted. Hard.
In October 2024, Trump finally sat down in the Austin studio for a marathon three-hour session. That episode basically broke the internet, racking up over 45 million views on YouTube alone in a matter of days. But the actual "vote" confirmation came later. It happened right after Rogan interviewed Elon Musk.
Rogan posted to X (formerly Twitter) saying that Musk made "the most compelling case for Trump you’ll hear." He followed it up with the kicker: "For the record, yes, that’s an endorsement of Trump."
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It was a massive moment for the Trump campaign. They had been chasing the "bro vote"—young men who feel alienated by traditional media—and Rogan is the undisputed king of that hill.
Wait, What Happened to RFK Jr?
Before the Trump endorsement, things were way more confusing. For a hot minute in August 2024, everyone thought Rogan was jumping on the Robert F. Kennedy Jr. train.
He called RFK Jr. the only candidate who "makes sense" to him. He praised the guy for being reasonable and not attacking people. Predictably, the MAGA world went into a total meltdown. Trump even posted on Truth Social, wondering how loudly Rogan would get booed the next time he entered a UFC Octagon.
Rogan had to walk it back. He clarified that he wasn't "endorsing" RFK Jr. but just liked him as a person. It was a classic Rogan move—floating an idea, seeing the world explode, and then saying, "Hey man, I'm just a cage-fighting commentator, don't listen to me."
The Bernie to Trump Pipeline
To understand who Joe Rogan is voting for, you have to look at his track record. It makes no sense if you look at it through a Republican vs. Democrat lens.
- 2012: Supported Ron Paul (Libertarian leaning).
- 2016: Voted for Gary Johnson (Libertarian).
- 2020: Said he’d probably vote for Bernie Sanders in the primary, then ended up voting for Jo Jorgensen (Libertarian) in the general because he couldn't stomach Biden.
- 2024: Endorsed Donald Trump.
What’s the common thread? It’s not policy. It’s "anti-establishment" energy. Rogan likes people who he thinks are being suppressed by the "legacy media" or the "deep state." Whether it’s a socialist like Bernie or a billionaire like Trump, if the mainstream news hates them, Rogan is usually interested.
Why the 2024 Choice Matters Now
We are now in 2026, and the fallout of that vote is still a major talking point. Rogan’s influence hasn't waned; if anything, he’s become more of a political kingmaker. But it hasn't been a honeymoon period.
Recently, Rogan has been surprisingly critical of the very administration he helped put in power. On a January 2026 episode with Senator Rand Paul, Rogan went off about ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) tactics. He actually compared some of the aggressive immigration raids to the "Gestapo."
"Are we really going to be the Gestapo? 'Where's your papers?' Is that what we've come to?"
That’s a quote that would have been unthinkable during the campaign. It shows that Rogan isn't a "loyalist." He’s a guy who follows his gut in the moment, which makes his future voting record impossible to predict.
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The "Manosphere" and the New Media
The reason Google Discover is obsessed with who Joe Rogan is voting for isn't just about one guy’s ballot. It’s about the death of the newspaper endorsement.
While the Washington Post was losing subscribers for refusing to endorse a candidate, Rogan was moving the needle for millions of young men. Data suggests that 56% of his listeners are under 35. That is the "Xbox demographic" that traditional politicians have no idea how to talk to.
Trump spent three hours talking about everything from UFOs to the Lincoln assassination on Rogan's show. Kamala Harris, meanwhile, couldn't reach a deal to appear on the podcast because of scheduling and topic constraints. That contrast arguably decided the 2024 election.
Common Misconceptions
- "He's a lifelong Republican." Nope. He’s spent most of his life as a self-described "bleeding heart liberal" on things like drug legalization and gay rights.
- "He does whatever Elon says." While the Musk interview triggered the official endorsement, Rogan had been leaning toward Trump for months due to his frustration with COVID-19 policies and "cancel culture."
- "He's a MAGA puppet." As his recent 2026 comments show, he’s perfectly happy to trash Trump’s policies when they cross his personal lines on civil liberties.
What This Means for You
If you’re trying to follow Rogan’s lead, the biggest takeaway isn't "vote for this guy." It's actually about how you consume information.
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- Look for long-form content. Rogan’s endorsement came after 6+ hours of deep-dive conversations, not a 30-second soundbite.
- Watch the pivots. Rogan changes his mind constantly. Being "right" matters less to him than being "authentic" in the moment.
- Check the civil liberties angle. Whether he's voting for a Democrat or a Republican, he almost always sides with the person he thinks will leave people alone the most.
The 2024 election proved that the most powerful endorsement in America isn't a celebrity on a stage at a rally. It’s a guy in a t-shirt sitting across from a candidate for three hours, just talking.
If you want to stay ahead of the next political shift, don't watch the news. Watch the guest list on the Joe Rogan Experience. That’s where the real "voting" starts.
Next steps for you:
- Research the voting history of other "alternative" media giants like Theo Von or Andrew Schulz to see if the "bro-vote" trend holds across the board.
- Listen to the January 13, 2026 episode of JRE to hear Rogan's full context on his recent criticisms of the administration.