Joe Rogan reveals why he finally agreed to interview Trump on ‘The Joe Rogan Experience’ podcast

Joe Rogan was inspired to have Donald Trump on his podcast when the former president was shot during a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, claiming the “timing was perfect” after years of turning the conversation down.

Rogan’s admission came during Friday’s highly anticipated interview on “The Joe Rogan Experience,” which saw Trump call the presidency a “very dangerous business” as the two discussed a wide range of topics.

The UFC commentator turned podcaster referred to Trump’s interview with comedian Theo Von on his podcast in August followed by Trump’s running mate Sen. JD Vance’s appearance on the same show.

“Is that why you called me to do this,” the 45th president asked with a smile.

“No,” Rogan replied. “Once they shot you I was like ‘he’s gotta come in here.’”

Joe Rogan interviews former President Donald Trump on “The Joe Rogan Experience” podcast on Oct. 25, 2024. PowerfulJRE/YouTube

“It’s all about timing, it’s all about the timing. I think the timing is perfect,” he added.

The conversation quickly shifted to Trump’s wound he sustained when 20-year-old gunman Thomas Matthew Crooks opened fire at the July 13 rally, firefighter Corey Comperatore.

Rogan asked if Trump had a scar on his ear.

PowerfulJRE/YouTube

“It zicked right there,” the GOP presidential nominee said, showing off the wound behind his right ear.

“It healed up pretty f–king good,” Rogan said.

Friday’s interview comes after years of Rogan shooting down multiple chances to have Trump on his hit program.

Trump is rushed off stage by Secret Service agents following the shooting at a rally in Butler, Pa. on July 13, 2024. Getty Images

“I’ve had the opportunity to have him on my show more than once, I’ve said ‘no’ every time. I don’t want to help him. I’m not interested in helping him,” Rogan said on the Lex Fridman Podcast in 2022.

“I am not a Trump supporter in any way shape or form,” he added.

Rogan has teased his attempts at securing Vice President Kamala Harris to appear on the popular show, but says she has yet to book a date.

“Can you imagine Kamala doing this show? She’d be lying on the floor,” Trump quipped.

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“She was supposed to be doing it and she might still, and I hope she does,” Rogan said. “I would talk to her like a human being and try to have a conversation with her.”

Rogan believed he would have a “fine conversation” with Harris, not an interview but to talk with her as a human being.

“That was my goal having her on, trying to get her to express herself,” he said

Blood forms around Trump’s right ear after he was “zicked”by a bullet at the rally. AP

Vice President Kamala Harris speaks at a campaign rally in Houston, Texas on Oct. 25, 2024. Getty Images

Rogan later blasted long-form conversations with political candidates and the presidential debates saying it places a “time limitation on complex ideas.”

He instead suggested the nominees should sit and have a conversation.

“I think you and Kamala, you sit across a table with no one in the room but the two of you, of course, you’re not going to shout at each other, hopefully, that is the way you do it,” he explained.

During the interview, Trump attempted to get Rogan to endorse him for president. PowerfulJRE/YouTube

The podcast has been viewed over 5 million times within the first five hours since it was released on YouTube.

The widely popular podcaster brushed off Trump’s attempt to get an endorsement out of him.

“He gave me the nicest endorsement,” Trump said, referring to Elon Musk. “You should do the same thing Joe because you cannot be voting for Kamala. Kamala. You’re not a Kamala person. I know you.”

Trump and Harris shake hands before the presidential debate at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia on Sept. 10, 2024. AFP via Getty Images

“I have watched you for so many years. You’re not a Kamala person. You’re a Khabib person – but you’re not a Kamala person,” Trump added, seemingly referring to retired UFC fighter Khabib Nurmagomedov.

“If she did this kind of interview with you, I hope she does because it would be a mess.”