Joe Rogan has reignited political chatter once again, this time by suggesting just two weeks ago that former President Donald Trump should run for governor of California once his second term in the White House concludes.
The idea surfaced during a recent episode of The Joe Rogan Experience featuring comic and author Francis Foster alongside political commentator Konstantin Kisin. While the conversation was delivered with the usual Rogan humor, the proposal has ricocheted across social media in the days since.
“What Donald Trump should do is when he leaves office, run for governor of California,” Rogan said. “Just take over California and fix it. It would be hilarious if he did. It would be one of the funniest things of all time, if an 82-year-old man steps into the office of California.”
Rogan even slipped into his trademark Trump impression:
“We’re gonna fix everything, got a problem with water, I know how to get the water.”
The suggestion carries weight beyond comedy. Rogan’s podcast ranks among the most listened-to in the country, and he publicly backed Trump during the 2024 campaign—going so far as to attend the inauguration. Analysts have credited Rogan, along with other prominent male podcasters, for amplifying Trump’s reach among younger men disillusioned with traditional media.
But Rogan’s “Trump for California” quip doesn’t exist in a vacuum—it comes amid an escalating feud with the state’s current governor, Gavin Newsom.
Newsom Calls Out Rogan as “Snack-Sized Podcaster”
California Governor Gavin Newsom has recently launched a very public campaign to appear on The Joe Rogan Experience, calling Rogan a “snack-sized podcaster” and accusing him of being too afraid to host a real debate. Newsom’s move has sparked debate over why Rogan—known for hosting controversial figures of every persuasion—appears hesitant to sit down with the man he’s spent years lambasting.
The irony is striking: according to recent analysis, Rogan has mentioned Newsom by name in 129 episodes, routinely portraying California as a “post-apocalyptic wasteland” led by an incompetent governor. He’s called it a “liberal communist Marxist phony state” and blamed Newsom for homelessness, high taxes, and the mass departure of residents.
Yet, when Newsom challenged him to talk face-to-face, Rogan deflected. On a recent episode, Rogan dismissed Newsom’s online taunts as “such a bad look” and “such a bad choice,” adding,
“I probably would have had him on, but now I’m like no, what are you doing?”
That explanation rings hollow given Rogan’s record of hosting polarizing guests without hesitation. The real issue seems to be that Newsom represents a kind of opponent Rogan isn’t used to—a professional debater armed with statistics, policy specifics, and media discipline.
Rogan’s Reluctance
Newsom has grown increasingly assertive in countering Rogan’s narrative about California. He’s pointed out that the state leads the U.S. in Fortune 500 companies, higher education, manufacturing, and farming, and contributes $83.1 billion more to the federal government than it receives—while Texas, a frequent Rogan favorite, takes $71.1 billion more than it gives.
On population trends, Newsom disputes the “California exodus” narrative, claiming that more Floridians move to California than vice versa on a per capita basis, and that the state’s population has been gradually increasing. He’s also acknowledged housing affordability issues while highlighting policy reforms aimed at addressing them.
Rogan, however, appears uneasy about facing someone capable of dismantling his talking points in real time. His discomfort has surfaced even in friendly exchanges when guests challenge his grasp of scientific or political topics. A live debate with a sitting governor would leave little room for improvisation.
For a host who has built a reputation on embracing “tough conversations,” Rogan’s hesitation reads like strategic retreat. It suggests he recognizes that debating a career politician could expose cracks in his trademark anti-establishment confidence.
A Clash of Egos
The feud between Rogan and Newsom has become a flashpoint for larger tensions between conservative media voices and progressive leadership in California. When Rogan joked two weeks ago about Trump taking over the state, it wasn’t just satire—it was a continuation of a years-long vendetta wrapped in humor.
During an episode with author Jack Carr, Rogan sharpened the attack:
“He wants to be president so bad,” Rogan said of Newsom. “You can’t ruin a city and then go on to ruin a state and say, ‘guys, that was just practice, once I get in as president, I’m gonna fix it.’”
In response, Newsom fired back publicly. On October 9, he posted on X:
“Joe Rogan is too to have me on his show and expose his listeners to the truth, so I’ll put it here,”
the governor wrote, before listing California’s accomplishments and concluding,
“I could continue… invite me on any time, @joerogan.”
The post went viral, drawing both cheers and jeers, with many demanding that Rogan finally host the governor he’s spent years criticizing from afar.
From Critic to Kingmaker
While Rogan’s “Trump for California” idea may have been tongue-in-cheek, it perfectly encapsulates his ongoing fixation with California’s politics—and his rivalry with the man running it. It’s not just a jab at Newsom’s leadership; it’s part of Rogan’s larger narrative portraying California as the emblem of everything wrong with liberal governance.
Still, as Newsom’s confidence grows and his potential 2028 presidential bid looms, Rogan’s refusal to engage directly could end up strengthening Newsom’s image rather than undermining it.