Joe Rogan is once again at the center of controversy, this time taking aim at Donald Trump and his handling of the Jeffrey Epstein case. During a recent episode of The Joe Rogan Experience, Rogan accused the former president of trying to “gaslight” the public about Epstein’s death and the secrecy surrounding the release of evidence tied to the case. The comments came during a discussion with Mike Baker, a former CIA operative, as they reviewed inconsistencies in the narrative offered by Trump allies and the Department of Justice.
Rogan, who has previously expressed support for Trump and once entertained the idea of endorsing him in 2024, said the Epstein scandal marked a breaking point. He pointed to early claims by prominent Trump defenders like Pam Bondi, who had asserted the FBI was in possession of “tens of thousands” of incriminating videos connected to Epstein. Yet when the Justice Department recently released a limited amount of surveillance footage, it appeared heavily redacted and—more notably—several minutes were missing.
“Do they think we’re babies?” Rogan asked incredulously. “Like, what is this?” He noted the discrepancy between what Trump’s team had promised and what was ultimately delivered, suggesting the administration’s response was not only inadequate but intentionally misleading. Rogan specifically called out Kash Patel and Dan Bongino, two Trump loyalists who had fanned expectations that explosive revelations were imminent. Instead, the files released offered little new insight and failed to satisfy public curiosity about who was involved in Epstein’s network.
What seemed to particularly irk Rogan was the perceived bait-and-switch: the idea that Trump and his allies had raised expectations about transparency and accountability, only to later deflect or deny when pressed for evidence. He described this tactic as textbook gaslighting—manipulating supporters into doubting their own expectations by offering half-truths and excuses.
Though Rogan has often been seen as sympathetic to Trump’s worldview, his recent comments represent a shift. “This one’s a line in the sand,” he said. For him, the Epstein case is not just another political scandal but a test of credibility. He warned his audience not to fall for spin or misdirection, especially when it concerns matters as serious as sex trafficking and political corruption.
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