Joe Rogan Breaks With Trump, Slams ICE as “Gestapo” in Blunt Podcast Critique

Joe Rogan, one of the most influential podcasters in the world, has publicly broken with President Donald Trump over his administration’s immigration enforcement tactics, comparing Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to “the Gestapo” during a recent episode of his podcast.

Speaking Tuesday on The Joe Rogan Experience, Rogan voiced alarm over what he described as increasingly aggressive and militarized immigration operations. The comments came during a conversation with Rand Paul, marking Rogan’s sharpest criticism yet of an administration he openly supported during the 2024 election.

Rogan endorsed Trump shortly after hosting him for a nearly three-hour interview during the campaign. At the time, the podcast host was seen as a major cultural ally for Trump, particularly among younger, conservative-leaning voters. His show remains a dominant force online, with tens of millions of followers across platforms.

But on Tuesday’s episode, Rogan said that while many Americans support arresting criminals, they are also increasingly uneasy about how ICE is operating.

“You don’t want militarized people in the streets just roaming around snatching people up,” Rogan said, noting reports of U.S. citizens being detained because they lacked identification. “Are we really going to be the Gestapo? ‘Where’s your papers?’ Is that what we’ve come to?”

Rogan’s remarks come amid a wave of viral videos showing ICE agents detaining people in public spaces, outside courthouses, and during immigration proceedings. Reports alleging wrongful arrests, including of legal residents and U.S. citizens, as well as claims of abuse inside detention centers, have fueled protests and widespread fear in several cities.

The podcaster also addressed last week’s fatal shooting of Renee Nicole Good in Minneapolis by an ICE agent. Trump and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem claimed Good attempted to run over the agent, with Noem labeling the incident “an act of domestic terrorism.” However, those claims have been disputed by eyewitness accounts and video footage.

“It was very ugly to watch someone shoot a U.S. citizen, especially a woman, in the face,” Rogan said. “It just looked horrific to me.”

Rogan’s criticism reflects a broader shift among a group of popular comedian-podcasters who once helped boost Trump’s appeal during the 2024 campaign. Focus groups conducted as part of NBC News’ 2025 Deciders series found that figures like Rogan played a role in persuading some young voters to back Trump.

Now, several of those same voices are expressing regret.

Andrew Schulz, host of the Flagrant podcast, has said he felt “duped” after voting for Trump, arguing that the president abandoned key campaign promises. “I voted for none of this,” Schulz said earlier this year.

Similarly, Theo Von, host of This Past Weekend, distanced himself from the administration after the Department of Homeland Security used a clip of him to promote ICE arrests without his consent. “My thoughts and heart are a lot more nuanced than this video allows,” Von wrote in response.

Rogan, who previously said he believed deportations would focus on serious criminals, has recently called ICE’s actions “f---ing crazy.” His latest comments underscore growing unease among some of Trump’s former cultural allies — and suggest that support from influential media figures may no longer be a given as immigration enforcement intensifies.