California Governor Gavin Newsom fired back at podcaster Joe Rogan in an all-caps post, calling Rogan "little guy" and saying he is being "relegated to irrelevancy." The rebuke responded to a 2023 clip in which Rogan labeled Newsom a "con man" and questioned his authenticity. Newsom has repeatedly said Rogan refuses to host him, while Rogan — who moved to Texas in 2020 — has both backed and later criticized Donald Trump. The exchange underscores tensions between a national political figure and a high-profile media host.
Newsom Taunts Joe Rogan, Calls Podcaster 'Little Guy' and Says He's Sliding Into 'Irrelevancy'
Fred Greaves/Mark J. Rebilas/Reuters
California Governor Gavin Newsom publicly taunted podcaster Joe Rogan on Thursday, accusing him of taking "cheap shots" and warning that Rogan is being "relegated to irrelevancy." The message — posted in all caps by Newsom's press office on X — intentionally echoed the blunt, nickname-driven style associated with former President Donald Trump.
"JOE 'LITTLE GUY' ROGAN IS TOO CHICKEN TO HAVE ME ON HIS FAILING PODCAST BECAUSE HE KNOW I’D CRUSH HIM, SO HE TAKES CHEAP SHOTS FROM THE PEANUT GALLERY AS HE GETS RELEGATED TO IRRELEVANCY. ALL TALK, NO ACTION. I’M READY WHEN YOU ARE, 'LITTLE GUY.' OR KEEP HIDING!!!!"
Newsom has long claimed that Rogan has refused to have him on the podcast. / Governor Newsom Press Office/X
The post was signed "Governor GCN," a nod to Trump's habit of appending initials to his posts. Newsom, 58, who is often mentioned as a potential 2028 presidential contender, issued the rebuttal after an August 2023 clip resurfaced in which Rogan called Newsom "a f---ing con man" during a discussion with conservative podcaster Patrick Bet-David.
Rogan, also 58, who moved from California to Texas in 2020 in part because of that state's looser pandemic restrictions, has repeatedly criticized Newsom and questioned his authenticity. In the earlier clip Rogan said, "nobody wants President Newsom" and suggested Newsom seemed more like a "construct" than a real person.
Joe Rogan attended an executive order signing regarding psychedelics in the Oval Office last week, despite his vocal criticism of the president. / The Washington Post / The Washington Post via Getty Im
Newsom has long publicized his frustration that Rogan criticizes him but will not invite him onto the podcast. Speaking on the Higher Learning podcast last October, Newsom looked into the camera and asked directly, "Joe, why won’t you have me on the show? He won’t have me on the show. It’s one way. And he has guests coming and attacking and bashing, but he will not have me on the show." Representatives for Rogan did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Rogan's influence has been notable: his endorsement is credited with helping to sway some young male voters toward Donald Trump in 2024, though Rogan has also publicly criticized aspects of the Trump presidency — from the handling of the Jeffrey Epstein files to deportation policy and the administration's posture toward Iran. Last week he again condemned Trump's Iran strategy, days after being invited to the Oval Office for the signing of an executive order designed to speed FDA review of psychedelic therapies, an issue Rogan has championed.
Why this matters: The exchange highlights a growing public spat between a high-profile state politician and a powerful media personality whose platform reaches large, politically engaged audiences. It also underscores Newsom's broader efforts to position himself nationally and to counter critics who question his authenticity and electability.
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