Podcast host Joe Rogan is raising concerns about the war in Iran, saying some supporters of President Donald Trump feel “betrayed” by the decision to launch military strikes.
Rogan made the comments during a recent episode of his podcast while speaking with author Michael Shellenberger.
The popular podcaster argued that the conflict appears to contradict one of Trump’s central campaign promises.
“This seems so insane based on what he ran on,” Rogan said while discussing the war.
Rogan noted that Trump had repeatedly campaigned on ending U.S. involvement in foreign conflicts.
“I mean, this is why a lot of people feel betrayed, right?” Rogan said.
“He ran on ‘no more wars,’ ‘end these stupid, senseless wars,’ and then we have one that we can’t even really clearly define why we did it.”
Shellenberger responded by noting that Trump had consistently spoken against “endless wars” during his campaign.
“They’re all endless,” Rogan replied.
He referenced remarks made in 2003 by then-Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld at the start of the Iraq War.
At the time, Rumsfeld suggested the conflict might last only weeks or months.
Instead, the war continued for nearly nine years.
Rogan also compared the Iran operation to a recent U.S. mission in Venezuela that resulted in the capture of former leader Nicolás Maduro.
“That one was, at least, clean,” Rogan said.
“They go in, kidnap him, get him out. This one’s nuts.”
During the discussion, Rogan questioned whether outside influences or advisers may have played a role in the decision to strike Iran.
He suggested Israel or “war hawks around him” could have influenced the policy.
Rogan also warned that expanding conflicts across multiple regions could lead to a larger global crisis.
“To add Iran to the pile,” he said, referring to wars in Gaza and Ukraine, “it genuinely feels like there’s a real possibility that we might be entering World War III.”
The White House pushed back against Rogan’s criticism, as NBC News reported.
In a statement, spokesperson Anna Kelly defended the administration’s actions and described the military campaign as necessary for national security.
“President Trump is courageously protecting the United States from the deadly threat posed by the rogue Iranian regime,” Kelly said.
She added that the administration is focused on preventing Iran from developing nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles.
The conflict with Iran began when the United States and Israel launched coordinated strikes on February 28.
Since then, fighting has escalated across the region.
Iran has responded by launching attacks against Israel and nearby U.S. bases in the Middle East.
The war has also taken a toll on American forces.
Several U.S. service members have been killed during the conflict.
Rogan was one of several influential podcast hosts credited with helping Trump reach younger voters during the 2024 election.
Trump appeared on Rogan’s show during the campaign and later thanked him during his victory speech.
However, Rogan has also criticized several policies during Trump’s second term.
He previously raised concerns about immigration enforcement, the administration’s handling of Jeffrey Epstein records and U.S. support for Israel in Gaza.
Despite the criticism, Trump has maintained a friendly tone toward Rogan.
In a recent interview, Trump called him “a great guy” and said he believes Rogan still supports him.
As the conflict with Iran continues, debates within Trump’s political base appear to be intensifying.
Some supporters argue the war contradicts Trump’s “America First” approach, while others say confronting Iran is necessary to protect the United States and its allies.
