How Trump is wooing Joe Rogan after their split

Axios Axios —

President Trump and his administration officials are working aggressively behind the scenes to court https://www.axios.com/2026/01/14/ice-trump-joe-rogan-immigration-minneapolis-shooting" target="_blank">Joe Rogan, even as the podcast titan torches the president over the Iran war.

Why it matters: Rogan's backing, and his pull with young male listeners, helped power Trump to a second term.

The president knows that keeping him close still matters.

What we're hearing: The White House had been working to build bridges to Rogan for months.

Trump is "frequently" in touch with the podcaster, according to a Trump aide.

The backdrop: Rogan has been a major proponent of psychedelic-based therapies.

The new executive order fast-tracks FDA review for psychedelics, designates $50 million for research into ibogaine, and orders federal agencies to expand research.

  • Rogan thanked Trump and recalled texting him information about ibogaine, a psychedelic that some clinical reports say may be effective in curbing opioid addiction.
  • "The text message came back: 'Sounds great.

    Do you want FDA approval?

    Let's do it.' It was literally that quick."

Behind the scenes: Two weekends ago, Trump was on his way to a https://www.whitehouse.gov/gallery/president-donald-j-trump-attends-ufc-327-in-miami-florida/" target="_blank">UFC fight night in Miami, where Rogan was announcing, when he reached out to https://www.doctoroz.com/" target="_blank">Dr. Mehmet Oz, administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, about ibogaine.

Kennedy and Oz then got going on the executive order.

Friction point: Rogan has been a vocal critic of the Iran war. "You're shooting missiles into towns and blowing things up ....

What the f*** are we doing?

Like, how is this still going on?" the podcaster https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/tv/articles/f-ck-doing-joe-rogan-203345145.html" target="_blank">said last week.

  • Rogan said voters "feel betrayed" by Trump, who "ran on no more wars."
  • Trump jabbed Rogan at Saturday's signing, saying the podcaster is "a little bit more liberal than I am."

Between the lines: Neither Trump nor Rogan is willing to blow up the relationship, as evidenced by their Oval Office appearance.

That contrasts with Trump's bitter shots at longtime ally Tucker Carlson, another Iran war critic.

Trump https://nypost.com/2026/04/07/us-news/trump-tears-into-tucker-carlson-over-iran-war-claims/" target="_blank">called Carlson a "low-IQ person that has absolutely no idea what's going on."

Within the White House, the executive order was seen as a way to maintain a bridge between Trump and Rogan.

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