Podcasters who once boosted Donald Trump are increasingly critical of the U.S. approach to the Iran conflict, with Joe Rogan emerging as an exception after a recent White House visit. Of 14 long-form “bro” podcasts that hosted Trump in 2024, eight hosts have questioned or criticized the war while only two have supported it. Figures such as Theo Von have called parts of the administration’s rhetoric "insane" and "f*cking baffling," raising political risks for Republicans as midterms approach. The White House defends its actions as necessary to prevent a nuclear Iran, and the administration is also moving to reclassify marijuana to ease medical research.
Podcasters Turn on Trump Over Iran War — Rogan an Outlier as Manosphere Voices Opposition
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Podcasters who helped amplify Donald Trump during his 2024 run are increasingly vocal in their opposition to the U.S. confrontation with Iran — and Joe Rogan appears to be one of the few high-profile exceptions.
Rogan’s Quiet Detente
In his most recent episode, Joe Rogan — fresh from a White House visit — downplayed online suggestions of a serious rift with President Trump. Rogan characterized a viral clip showing Trump with his hands on Rogan’s shoulders at a UFC event as a friendly exchange in which the president relayed positive news about supporting psychedelic therapy research after Rogan raised the topic. Rogan’s response on the show was simply, "Thank you, sir." He did not use the episode to criticize the Iran conflict.
Bro-Podcast Pushback
Still, outreach to Rogan has not solved a broader challenge: of the 14 long-form “bro” podcasts that featured Trump during the 2024 campaign, eight hosts have publicly questioned or criticized the U.S. approach to Iran while only two have voiced clear support. That split highlights growing skepticism across podcasts that appeal to younger, predominantly male audiences.
"What regular person is this helping? I just don't know. I don't understand," said comedian Theo Von, who endorsed Trump in 2024 after hosting him on his show. Von described the threat to "wipe out Iranian civilization" as "insane" and called the war "f*cking baffling."
Why It Matters
The broader so-called "manosphere" — a loose network of hyper-masculine content creators that ranges from casual bro-casters to more overtly conservative commentators — has become more confrontational toward Trump on a range of topics, from the Jeffrey Epstein files to federal spending. That backlash over the Iran war poses a political risk for Republicans as the midterm season approaches and Trump faces slipping approval numbers.
Republican strategist Alex Conant, a former aide to Marco Rubio, told Semafor that an isolationist strand of Trump’s coalition is not inclined to support a war: "If I'm an America First voter who listens to Joe Rogan, I'm getting a lot of reasons to oppose the war every week."
Official Response and Other Developments
The White House did not directly rebut podcaster criticism when asked, instead restating that Trump campaigned on preventing Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon. White House spokesman Davis Ingle said, "What matters most to the American people is having a Commander-in-Chief who takes decisive action to eliminate threats and keep them safe, which is exactly what President Trump did with the successful Operation Epic Fury."
Separately, Axios reported that the administration is reclassifying marijuana to make medical research easier — a move welcomed by Rogan and other podcasters who have advocated for expanded psychedelics and cannabis research.
As the conflict nears two months, the discontent within influential podcast networks underscores the difficulty political figures face when their messaging collides with diverse and sometimes skeptical audiences they once courted.
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