Podcaster Joe Rogan says he’s reached a breaking point with President Donald Trump over the administration’s handling of documents related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Rogan, who backed Trump during the 2024 election and even attended his inauguration, voiced his frustration during a recent episode of The Joe Rogan Experience, calling the Epstein controversy a defining moment.
Why It Matters
Rogan’s public split with Trump adds to growing criticism from within the president’s own base. While Trump has dismissed the uproar surrounding the Epstein investigation as a “scam” and “hoax,” many supporters are demanding the release of all remaining files tied to the disgraced financier, who died in a New York jail in 2019 while awaiting additional sex trafficking charges.
Epstein’s ties to elites across politics, media, and business have long fueled speculation and conspiracy theories. The latest backlash reignited after federal authorities released a brief memo saying no “client list” exists and that no further disclosures were warranted—a conclusion that many Americans aren’t buying.
Rogan Speaks Out
“This is a line in the sand,” Rogan told his guest, former CIA officer Mike Baker. “We thought Trump was going to come in and drain the swamp. We thought we’d get answers.”
Referencing Trump’s dismissive response to the renewed Epstein questions—“Why does everyone care about Epstein?”—Rogan criticized what he sees as gaslighting: “Everybody has been talking about this forever, and now they’re trying to pretend it’s nothing?”
Rogan’s comments came after praising a recent South Park episode that mocked Trump and took aim at the ongoing chaos in American politics.
Baker echoed Rogan’s sentiment, saying bluntly, “Just release everything.” He added that Trump had campaigned on transparency regarding Epstein and is now facing the consequences of failing to deliver. “It’s part of how he got elected,” Rogan agreed.
The Fallout
In a July 6 memo, the Department of Justice and FBI stated that after a full review of all Epstein-related materials, there was no list of clients and no further disclosure would be “appropriate or warranted.” That declaration contradicted earlier suggestions from officials—most notably Attorney General Pam Bondi, who in February said the Epstein materials were “on her desk.” She later clarified she had been referring to case files, not a list of names.
Meanwhile, Trump’s recent remarks at a Cabinet meeting—mocking renewed interest in the Epstein case—sparked backlash among even his most loyal followers.
What’s Next
Despite federal agencies trying to shut the door on the issue, it’s unlikely to go away. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche recently met with Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein’s longtime associate who is currently serving a 20-year sentence for her role in the sex trafficking operation. Blanche has promised to share details from that meeting “at an appropriate time.”
Baker predicted the Epstein controversy will continue to dog the administration. “They think everyone will move on by the time Congress returns from recess in September,” he said. “I think they’re wrong.”
A representative for Rogan has not yet responded to Newsweek’s request for comment.
