He hasn’t said it directly yet, but Joe Rogan seems to be getting away from Donald Trump, the candidate he approved for the presidential election in 2024. Week after week, the wildly popular podcaster has grown more and more critical of Trump’s policy.
Just a few days ago, Rogan Trump’s immigration section, specifically, burst masses and attacks carried out by immigration and customs enforcement (ICE). Rogan even admitted that he felt misled by candidate Trump, whom he thought would only target criminals. But as he expressed it, reality has been far more disturbing.
“We were told there would be …,” Rogan began during the July 2nd episode of the Joe Rogan experience before calibrating again. “There are two things that are insane. One is targeting against wandering workers, not cartel members, not giving members, not drug dealers, just construction workers showing up on construction sites, attacking them. Gardener. Like, really?”
Now Rogan has been aiming for another political error line, one that cuts right through the heart of the Maga movement: the longing scandal of Jeffrey Epstein.
He did so with a single post on X (formerly Twitter), the platform owned by Elon Musk, who has become one of Trump’s highest critics in recent weeks. In particular, Rogan rarely posts on social media. Since July, he has only sent twice, once to promote a show, and once to send this: “Shout to all the people who still don’t believe in conspiracy. Your ability to stick to your guns is inspiring,” Rogan wrote on July 8.
It was classic Rogan: sarcastic, ambiguous and surgically timed to land in the midst of a political fire storm. Of course, this fire storm is the Epstein files and a public, bitter feud between Elon Musk and Donald Trump.
Shout to all the people who still don’t believe in conspiracies. Your ability to stick to your guns is inspiring.
– Joe Rogan (@joerogan) July 8, 2025
Epstein coverage accusations
For years, conspiracy theories have swirled around Jeffrey Epstein, the convicted sex offender who died in a prison cell in Manhattan in 2019. Many, especially to the right, believe that Epstein was murdered and that his so -called “client list” by powerful men is suppressed by the government to protect the elites.
In the past few weeks, these theories have been reigned. The Department of Justice and the FBI released a note that Epstein died by suicide and that no evidence of a “client list” or extortion material ever was found. The conclusion was intended to close the door to speculation, but it worsened only the outrage.
Maga-influences, conspiracy theorists and even some mainstream conservatives immediately accused DOJ and the Trump administration of a cover. Yes, Trump’s own camp is now blamed for protecting the very elite pedophile network that he once promised to postpone.
Elon Musk added fuel to the fire last month when he publicly hinted-at-so-to Trump might have hidden Epstein-related secrets. Musk later deleted the post and admitted that he “went too far,” but the damage was done.
“How can people be expected to trust Trump if he doesn’t release the Epstein files?” Musk asked on July 8th. When Musk was pressed as to whether the release of the files would be a highest priority for his newly created America party, Musk replied with an “💯” emoji.
How can people be expected to have faith in Trump if he doesn’t release the Epstein files?
– Elon Musk (@elonmusk) July 8, 2025
Trump, in turn, has refused to engage meaningfully. Asked at a press conference on Epstein, he broke, “Are you still talking about Jeffrey Epstein? This guy has been talked about for years,” said the president during a cabinet meeting on July 8. “Will you waste time?”
Evasivivity elaborated only suspicions and divided Trump’s base.
Rogan’s cryptic posts hit hard
It is the context of Rogan’s 8th July post.
He did not mention Epstein. He didn’t mention Trump. But he didn’t need it. Everyone knew what he meant. “Shout to all the people who still don’t believe in conspiracies …” The sarcasm drips from the screen. Rogan mocks those who continue to reject the government’s coverage theories like Frying Paranoia, calling them out to stick to their unbelievers even when new evidence is piling up.
His “your ability to stick to your guns is inspiring” is a pointed jab by those who cling to the idea that there is nothing to see here. It is a flash to his core audience, those who have long believed that the elites hide the truth in ordinary sight. After Epstein, after Musk’s claims, after Trump’s evasion, it is difficult to reject conspiracy anymore, the podcaster seems to say.
Rogan helps to normalize the idea that real conspiracies are not frightened. They are mainstream. And they play out in real time in front of us. He also helps to break the maga from the inside. Trump’s rejection of tackling Epstein and now Rogan’s subtle attack is forcing a new calculation among the much voters who helped choose him.
The effort
Joe Rogan may not be a politician, but he is one of the most influential voices in modern media. He speaks directly to millions of working classmen, many of whom distrust the government, the media and institutions. His quiet rebellion against Trump could signal something greater: a major cultural shift in how conspiracy, trust and power are discussed on the American right.
For years, Trump has been the ship for populist rage. But now Rogan may be steering that rage somewhere else.