Top podcaster Joe Rogan explained Friday during a three-hour unscripted interview with former President Donald Trump how the 2024 Republican nominee’s unique path to the White House in 2016 involved saying “a lot of wild shit.”
Trump commented he always attracted more publicity than others without trying, prompting the host of “The Joe Rogan Experience” to reflect how establishment media contributed to Trump’s surge in popularity and ascension to the presidency.
“Oh, I can definitely tell you. You said a lot of wild shit,” Rogan laughed. “You said a lot of wild shit, and then CNN, in all their brilliance, by highlighting your wild shit, made you much more popular.”
Rogan also told Trump how voters exhausted by carefully scripted political rhetoric were drawn to the then-Repiblican candidate’s perceived authenticity.
Wow 😂
TRUMP: “I always got more publicity than other people…I don’t know exactly why?”
ROGAN: “You said a lot of wild shit!” pic.twitter.com/ybf0zYSIh8
— Russell Brand (@rustyrockets) October 26, 2024
“People were tired of someone talking in this bullshit, pre-prepared politician lingo. And even if they didn’t agree with you, they at least knew whoever that guy is, that’s him,” Rogan said.
Rogan then pointed to Trump’s large rallies and compared his delivery to that of a standup comedian — for which he said no politician was comparable.
“You need at least the attitude of a comedian when you’re doing this business. This is a very dangerous business, first of all. It’s a very tough business,” Trump said.
Rogan also ripped the media for brushing the two assassination attempts on Trump’s life out of the news. The GOP nominee, however, said he would “rather not talk about” the incidents. (RELATED: Biden Will Not Appear With Kamala Harris Before Election Day: REPORT)
Trump also admitted to the major podcaster how his biggest mistake as president was appointing people he later reflected should not have been selected for certain positions in his administration.
“The biggest mistake I’ve made is I’ve picked some people — I’ve picked some great people, but you don’t think about that — I picked some people that I shouldn’t have picked,” Trump said, specifically naming his former chief of staff, John Kelly.
Vice President Kamala Harris was asked the same question during a Wednesday town hall hosted by CNN’s Anderson Cooper. The 2024 Democratic presidential nominee said she made many mistakes, initially comparing herself to a parent.
Harris eventually settled on highlighting a strength instead of a weakness, only to say it would be a weakness to lack the said strength.
Watch both 2024 presidential candidates answer: What was your biggest mistake? 🚨
DONALD TRUMP: “I picked some people that I shouldn’t have picked.”
KAMALA HARRIS: “I probably worked very hard at making sure that I am well-versed on issues and I think that is very important.” pic.twitter.com/fOclTVTOvd
— Julianna Frieman (@JuliannaFrieman) October 26, 2024
“In my role as vice president, I mean, I probably worked very hard at making sure that I am well-versed on issues and I think that is very important. It’s a mistake not to be well-versed on an issue and feel compelled to answer a question,” Harris said with a smirk at the CNN host.
Rogan previously revealed he had concerns how interviewing Trump could “help him.”
“By the way, I am not a Trump supporter, in any way, shape or form,” Rogan said during a July 2022 appearance on the “Lex Fridman Podcast.” “I have had the opportunity to have him on my show, more than once, and I have said no every time. I don’t want to help him, I’m not interested in helping him.”
After the former president survived an assassination attempt at a July 13 rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, however, Rogan reconsidered his position.
“Once they shot you, I was like, ‘He’s got to come in here,’” Rogan said. “It’s all about timing.”
Trump opened the long-anticipated interview with Rogan — which garnered over seven million views overnight after being uploaded Friday night — by revealing how winning the presidency was more “surreal” than his being shot in the ear.
Joe Rogan asks Trump what it was like getting into office on day one:
“It was a very surreal experience.” pic.twitter.com/OWroKUFZKB
— Russell Brand (@rustyrockets) October 26, 2024
“When I was in and won and was in the White House, essentially, well, first of all, it was very surreal,” the former president said. “It’s very interesting. When I got shot, it wasn’t surreal. That should have been surreal.”