Trump and Rogan Meet in Oval Office to Discuss Psychedelics

The president signed an executive order to expedite research into using psychedelics to treat mental illness.

Apr. 18, 2026 at 4:48pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A dynamic, abstract painting featuring the overlapping, fragmented figures of President Trump and Joe Rogan in the Oval Office, rendered in a bold, colorful style that captures the energy and significance of their discussion on psychedelic drug research.The unexpected meeting between President Trump and podcast host Joe Rogan highlights the growing bipartisan interest in exploring the potential medical uses of psychedelics.Washington Today

President Donald Trump and podcast host Joe Rogan met in the Oval Office on Saturday, where Trump signed an executive order directing the FDA to boost research into the use of psychedelics such as LSD, MDMA, and ibogaine to treat mental illness. Rogan, who had previously sent Trump information on the benefits of ibogaine in combating opioid addiction, stood alongside Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Dr. Mehmet Oz as the president signed the order.

Why it matters

The meeting between Trump and Rogan, despite their political differences, highlights the growing bipartisan interest in exploring the potential medical uses of psychedelics, which are currently classified as Schedule I drugs with no accepted medical use. This executive order could pave the way for further research and potential rescheduling of these substances.

The details

During the meeting, Rogan expressed particular interest in ibogaine, a compound found in the roots of the African shrub iboga, which has shown promise in treating opioid and cocaine addiction. Trump jokingly asked if he could have some of the substance, saying he doesn't 'have time to be depressed' and that 'if you stay busy enough, maybe that works too'.

  • The meeting took place on Saturday, April 18, 2026 in the Oval Office.
  • Trump signed the executive order during the meeting.

The players

Donald Trump

The 79-year-old President of the United States.

Joe Rogan

A 58-year-old podcast host who has publicly broken from Trump on various issues in the past.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

The current Health Secretary under the Trump administration.

Dr. Mehmet Oz

The administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“We all respect Joe and he's a little bit more liberal than I am.”

— Donald Trump, President of the United States

“I wanna tell everybody how this happened. I sent President Trump some information. We have a gigantic opiate problem in this country, obviously.”

— Joe Rogan, Podcast Host

“This thing, everybody thought it was incredible. And I told Bobby, I said, 'Bobby, let's just do it and get Oz involved and it's gonna get done so quickly' and you guys did a great job.”

— Donald Trump, President of the United States

What’s next

The FDA will now work to expedite research into the use of psychedelics to treat mental illness, as directed by the executive order signed by President Trump.

The takeaway

The meeting between Trump and Rogan, despite their political differences, demonstrates the growing bipartisan interest in exploring the potential medical benefits of psychedelics, which could lead to a rescheduling of these substances and increased access for research and treatment.