Staff Reports
Former President Donald Trump is gearing up for a power play as he prepares to sit down with podcaster Joe Rogan, aiming straight for the hearts of young voters just days before the pivotal Election Day. Scheduled to be recorded at Rogan’s Austin, Texas studio, this interview promises to be a heavyweight event in the conservative landscape, although no official air date has been announced yet. With just 11 days left until the election, the anticipation builds like a pot about to boil over.
Rogan, often hailed as the king of podcasts with a whopping 14 million Spotify followers, is no stranger to the political sphere. His show, “The Joe Rogan Experience,” appeals predominantly to young, male listeners, a demographic Trump is hoping to engage more actively this cycle. While some might argue that young men have become a tough crowd for politicians, Trump’s calculated strategy leans on the data revealing that 81 percent of Rogan’s audience is male, with 56 percent in the prime 18 to 34 age bracket. Given this demographic’s historically low voter turnout, convincing them to head to the polls could be a game-changer for Trump.
President Trump going on Joe Rogan is going to be the biggest podcast interview in history!
From McDonalds to the Steelers game and now going on Joe Rogan 11 days before the election is how you close an election! And Donald Trump is a closer!
LIBERATION DAY IS NEAR! pic.twitter.com/b74eRbqxnP
— Viking Prairie K9™️ (@RL1225) October 23, 2024
Interestingly, this will mark Trump’s debut appearance on Rogan’s show, a title that is billed as the number one podcast worldwide. Their rapport has been established through friendly exchanges at UFC events, suggesting that while Rogan has thrown a mix of compliments and criticisms at Trump before, they both seem to appreciate each other’s company. On the opposite end of the spectrum, Vice President Kamala Harris, uncharacteristically shy for a politician, has publicly declined an invitation to appear on the podcast due to “scheduling” conflicts—what some may interpret more accurately as sheer dread of facing Rogan’s hard-hitting questions.
The contrast between Trump and Harris couldn’t be more pronounced, with Trump enthusiastically engaging with new media influencers while Harris recoils from the scrutiny of even a neutral platform. Recent comments from a Harris intern suggest that scheduling excuses are merely a polite disguise for an inability to handle a true conversational challenge. Evidence of Harris’s questionable communication skills, including her many gaffes, likely plays into her podcast avoidance strategy.
As Trump’s strategy with Rogan unfolds, it becomes apparent that his shift away from traditional media reflects a broader trend: the decline of corporate outlets amid growing skepticism about their integrity. Trump has recently canceled interviews with notable legacy media, demonstrating his preference for platforms where he can directly connect with voters rather than dodging barbs from adversarial reporters. Recent appearances across various podcasts show that he’s no longer interested in the toxic atmosphere of previously hostile media environments.
This pivot marks a fascinating shift in the political battle for public opinion. As the legacy media continues to face a credibility crisis, independent media platforms like Rogan’s could come to dominate in terms of influence—a notion that is music to the ears of many conservatives fed up with biased reporting. The impending discussion with Rogan offers Trump an opportunity not just to engage with millions directly, but also to redirect the narrative around his candidacy as he pushes closer to November 5.
