Joe Rogan Says 'No Clear Way' to Resolve Iran War as Trump Approval Sinks
Newsweek · C · trust 51/100
0 Share Newsweek is a Trust Project member See more of our trusted coverage when you search. Prefer Newsweek on Google to see more of our trusted coverage when you search. Podcaster Joe Rogan questioned both the direction and sustainability of the U.S. military campaign against Iran during an episode of The Joe Rogan Experience released Friday, arguing that there is "no clear way" to end the war.
While speaking with journalist Annie Jacobsen, Rogan voiced concerns about the conflict, agreeing with her assessment about a potential "fundamental warping" of the U.S. military. “Yeah, without a doubt,” Rogan said. “And also, no clear way to resolve this—at all. And it seems like our stockpiles are running dry. You know, bases are getting blown up by drones.”
Rogan later added, "also the real problem is it makes America an enemy and it makes us less safe because America has done this thing, this unprovoked attack and so now, they have a reason to attack back."
Newsweek reached out to the White House on Friday for comment. Newsweek also contacted the State Department but was referred to the White House.
Rogan's comments add to a series of criticisms he has directed at President Donald Trump's handling of the conflict. Earlier this year, the podcast host questioned the administration's military strategy, saying it "doesn't make any sense" and questioned the motives behind it. During his discussion with Jacobsen, Rogan suggested the war has potentially exposed vulnerabilities in America's military readiness, pointing to alleged drone attacks on bases and concerns over the possibility of dwindling weapons stockpiles.
Robert Y. Shapiro, professor of political science and in the School of International and Public Affairs at Columbia, told Newsweek on Friday: "Normally I would say Rogan's comments could have an impact of a couple percentage points or more on Trump's support among his base, but at this point the debacle in Iran is so clear that those who might be influenced by Rogan have seen the reality of the situation already."
Shapiro called Rogan's public comments "more writing on the wall for Trump and Republicans supporting the war that this war has not succeeded according to plans and is not likely to."
The remarks also come as public support for Trump's Iran policy has weakened . A recent poll from Quinnipiac University shows that 34 percent of voters support U.S. military action against Iran, while 60 percent oppose it. The figures mark both the highest opposition and lowest approval levels recorded by the pollster since asking the question in early March.
The poll shows that 26 percent of independents support the military action versus 69 percent who oppose it. Trump's approval rating on Iran is 28 percent and his disapproval rating is 66 percent. In a survey taken last month by the pollster, Trump's approval rating on Iran was 34 percent and his disapproval mark was 62 percent.
The poll surveyed 963 self-identified registered voters across the country from July 23 to July 27 and has a margin of error of 4.1 percent.
In a survey earlier this month from YouGov/ The Economist , Trump's approval on Iran was 31 percent versus a 59 percent disapproval rating. The poll was taken from July 10 to July 13 among 1,616 U.S. adults and had a margin of error of 3.3 percent. A poll in June showed Trump's approval score on the issue at 34 percent with a 55 percent disapproval rating.
As one of the country's most influential podcast hosts, Rogan's criticism carries added political significance because he has previously expressed support for Trump on several issues. Trump went on his podcast shortly before the 2024 presidential election, and Rogan endorsed him on the eve of the vote.
Regarding military action against Iran, Rogan has previously said it "just doesn't make any sense to me unless we're acting on someone else's interest, like particularly Israel's interests. It just didn't make any sense to me."
"But it just seems so insane based on what he ran on," Rogan added, referring to Trump.
"I mean, this is why a lot of people feel betrayed, right? He ran on no more wars and these stupid, senseless wars, and then we have one that we can't even really clearly define why we did it."
His repeated willingness to publicly question the administration's handling of Iran reflects a broader debate among conservatives and independent voters over whether the conflict aligns with Trump's long-standing promise to avoid new and never-ending wars. With public opinion becoming increasingly divided, Rogan's remark that there is "no clear way to resolve this" is likely to resonate beyond his audience.
The conflict involving Iran remains volatile despite ongoing diplomatic efforts, with tensions continuing across multiple fronts in the Middle East.
While there were no new U.S. strikes on Iran overnight, according to the Associated Press, Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps said it attacked two additional oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz, and Kuwait reported intercepting drones, underscoring the risk of further regional escalation.
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