Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump opened up in an interview that lasted almost three hours with Joe Rogan about several things connected to his presidency.
Some of them include what he describes as his "biggest mistake" during his presidency, interaction with foreign leaders, and even thoughts on alien life.
This broad-ranging conversation, conducted with America's leading podcaster, underscores Trump's efforts to cement his appeal to male voters. This demographic represents a significant portion of Rogan's listenership, which has 14.5 million followers on Spotify and 17.5 million on YouTube.
In 2020, Rogan called Trump an "existential threat to democracy" and refused to invite him on his show. But this encounter, this time at Austin, Texas, was a harmless, mutually agreeable get-together characterized by a common point of interest - the Ultimate Fighting Championship, and the other common acquaintances which are Elon Musk. An encounter that comes at such a critical moment when it's getting hotter in most battleground states like Michigan where it almost took him three hours late to a rally where he was to meet with Rogan.
The "Biggest Mistake" of His Presidency
During the interview, he honestly reflected on his stay in office, showing that his biggest mistake was his choice of advisers. He said: "I picked a few people I shouldn't have picked," targeting specifically those he claimed were "neocons" or "disloyal". Trump lashed out at the former White House chief of staff John Kelly, accusing him of being "a bully but a weak person, and labeled his former National Security Adviser John Bolton as "an idiot" but sometimes useful.
Trump reminisced about his discussion with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, how their relations have transformed from hostile exchanges to a friendly dialogue. He remembered telling Kim, "Why don't you go take it easy? Go to the beach, relax." Trump declared that by the end of their talks, they had "no problem" with North Korea and claimed he urged Kim to stop expanding his nuclear arsenal.
On another geopolitical front, Trump said he was confident Russia would not have invaded Ukraine if he were president. He implied that President Putin made the decision because of a lack of respect for his successor, Joe Biden. "I used to talk to him all the time," Trump said, making it clear that he believes his style of diplomacy prevented the war.
Dubious claims about 2020 election
Rogan also asked Trump questions about his claims regarding the 2020 presidential election, which he has repeatedly characterized as "stolen." Trump was challenged to produce evidence of voter fraud.
When he was prodded on that point, he said, "We'll do it another time," but then cited supposed irregularities in Wisconsin. His comment that he "lost by, like, I didn't lose" shows that he is still refusing to accept the legitimacy of the election.
Attacking political enemies
Trump did not hesitate to lash out at his political opponents, referring to Vice President Kamala Harris as a "very low IQ person" and denouncing California Governor Gavin Newsom as "one of the worst governors in the world." He praised Elon Musk and said he would consider taking Robert F. Kennedy Jr. into his cabinet, although Kennedy and Trump had clashed on environmental issues.
Rumors of Alien Life
He did say he had considered that maybe extraterrestrial life could be real, "There's no reason not to think that Mars and all these planets don't have life," he said. "You know, some of the greatest pilots that ever flew have seen some very strange things in the sky. But they weren't saying anything, okay? And it's too far out." Rogan interjected, "You cannot believe the amount of coverage of Mars, it has been scanned so much without evidence of life," and Trump would not discount such existence.
The health issues related to the president also surfaced when Trump said that after undergoing a physical check, some doctors called his ability to run on a very steep treadmill "unbelievable." He further clarified liking his keeping fit by golf and asserted that treadmills were "really boring." Trump has not responded to a series of demands from the Democratic camp to make public the full medical records for review but his comments give an impression that he feels confident about his overall fitness.
The interview with Rogan sets the stage for a renewed campaign effort where Trump aims to engage voters in his stance on critical issues. Through his reflection about his past decisions, strategies of foreign policy, even venturing into extraterrestrial speculation, Trump manages to stay at the epicenter of the debate that is polarizing, creating a focus point for fans and detractors alike. Only time will tell what effect it has on public opinion during this election season, but one thing is certain: Trump's tale is far from an ending.
