Joe Rogan said podcasters should not be treated as journalists or given seats at White House press briefings, pushing back on suggestions that commentators like himself ought to be in the room asking questions of officials such as press secretary Karoline Leavitt.
Speaking Friday with comedians Shane Gillis, Mark Normand, and Ari Shaffir, Rogan described President Donald Trump’s recent press gaggles as chaotic, with reporters often talking over one another.
“There is a problem at these things,” Rogan said. “Like, say if you have a question and you’re talking to him. Someone else would just talk louder right next to you with a totally different question. It is f—ing annoying. And they don’t care. It’s a bad podcast!”
He repeated the critique, arguing that reporters should wait their turn rather than shout over each other.
“It’s a bad podcast,” Rogan said. “If you hear a guy with a good question, let him go. Let him cook. Let him ask his f—ing question. And if you have a question later, raise your f—ing hand. And when he comes to you, ask your question. But if you’re just yelling over the other guy’s question, a louder, different question. That s—‘s annoying.”
Rogan then addressed comments from David Sacks, chairman of the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology, who had complained that the administration had alienated podcasters with recent policies and suggested they deserved a front-row seat at news conferences.
“Like, hey, how about no?” Rogan said. “How about real journalists? How about not have us do that? Also, we’re not going! We’re not going to the f—ing press conferences and sitting in the front row and asking questions to Karoline Leavitt.”
He drew a firm line between commentary and journalism.
“We’re not going to go to the press conferences,” Rogan continued. “We’re not press people. We talk s—. OK? And it’s a sickness of our society that people take our opinions so importantly that it’s so significant. It should not be. They do though, unfortunately. And it works, unfortunately.”
Podcasters played an outsized role in the 2024 presidential race, which was dubbed the “podcast election” as candidates sought out alternative media to reach voters. Rogan interviewed Trump during the campaign and later endorsed him.
As White House press secretary, Karoline Leavitt was credited with opening the briefing room to alternative media by creating a “new media seat” near the podium, allowing bloggers, social media influencers and others to ask questions during briefings.
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