Rogan Criticizes Trump Over 'Insane' Iran War

Podcaster says Trump supporters feel 'betrayed' by administration's foreign policy actions

Published on Mar. 12, 2026

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Joe Rogan, whose podcast helped boost support for Donald Trump among young men before the 2024 election, is now criticizing the president's foreign policy actions, particularly the war with Iran. Rogan said many Trump supporters feel 'betrayed' after the president campaigned on ending 'stupid, senseless wars,' but has now launched a conflict that 'seems so insane' and could lead to 'World War III'.

Why it matters

Rogan's criticism carries significant weight, as he was an influential supporter of Trump and helped the former president gain traction with a key demographic. His remarks highlight growing discontent among the president's base over his foreign policy decisions, which could impact Trump's political standing and re-election prospects.

The details

On a podcast episode, Rogan questioned the war on Iran, saying it 'seems so insane' based on Trump's campaign promises to end foreign wars. He linked the Iran campaign to what he called 'endless' US wars, contrasting it with the 'clean' US operation that seized Venezuela's Nicolás Maduro. Rogan floated the idea that Trump may be influenced by 'war hawks' around him, and warned that with Iran added to conflicts in Gaza and Ukraine, 'it genuinely feels like there's a real possibility that we might be entering World War III'.

  • The podcast episode with conservative writer Michael Shellenberger was released on Tuesday, March 12, 2026.

The players

Joe Rogan

A podcaster whose show helped boost support for Donald Trump among young men before the 2024 election.

Donald Trump

The current president of the United States, who Rogan endorsed in the 2024 election.

Michael Shellenberger

A conservative writer who appeared on Rogan's podcast episode.

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What they’re saying

“Trump 'ran on 'no more wars,' 'end these stupid, senseless wars,' and then we have one that we can't even really clearly define why we did it.”

— Joe Rogan, Podcaster (NBC News)

“Neither thing made any sense, but at least the Venezuela operation was 'clean.'”

— Joe Rogan, Podcaster (NBC News)

“It genuinely feels like there's a real possibility that we might be entering World War III.”

— Joe Rogan, Podcaster (NBC News)

The takeaway

Rogan's criticism of Trump's foreign policy actions, particularly the war with Iran, highlights growing discontent among the president's base and could impact his political standing and re-election prospects. The remarks underscore the challenges Trump faces in maintaining support from key demographics like young men, who were crucial to his 2024 victory.