Joe Rogan has openly criticized Donald Trump's recent conviction, emphasizing what he perceives as systemic corruption.
Trump was found guilty on 34 felony counts related to falsifying business records connected to a hush money payment during the 2016 election, and Rogan has taken aim at the seeming incongruity with a host of past scandals, including those that involved former President Barack Obama, as Newsweek reports.
Rogan referenced past controversies implicating Obama while discussing Trump's legal troubles. On May 30, Donald Trump was convicted for falsifying business records concerning a $130,000 payment made by Michael Cohen to Stormy Daniels. This payment, made shortly before the 2016 election, was recorded in the Trump Organization's records as "legal fees."
Prosecutors argue that this was an illegal attempt to influence the election's outcome. Trump admitted to reimbursing Cohen but denied any wrongdoing, claiming the case was a political witch hunt. Rogan, on his June 5 podcast episode of The Joe Rogan Experience, criticized these charges as both excessive and politically motivated.
During his podcast, Rogan compared Trump's ordeal to actions of former presidents, including Obama, George W. Bush, and Richard Nixon. Rogan recalled criticisms Obama faced for a 2011 drone strike that killed U.S. citizen Anwar al-Awlaki. Trump's attorneys also referenced several instances of alleged presidential misconduct that went unprosecuted in an October court filing.
These examples included Obama's drone strike, Nixon’s behavior during the Watergate scandal, and Bush's actions leading up to the Iraq War. Trump said, "This was a disgrace. This was a rigged trial by a conflicted judge who was corrupt." These sentiments resonated with Rogan's arguments about political bias in legal actions against Trump.
Rogan suggested that if a political party backs a president, the president may be shielded from legal consequences. "If you have the backing of the political party it doesn't matter, especially the party that's in charge," Rogan said. He expressed concern about the willingness of some Democrats to overlook or allow such legal actions.
An unnamed woman in a viral video, quoted by Rogan, called the situation "really dangerous for democracy," arguing that no one could justify jailing Trump for this matter. Rogan stated, "It just doesn't make any sense, especially if you wanted to look at past presidents with the same scrutiny." He stressed that many instances in history could be scrutinized similarly.
Obama, quoted by Rogan, reportedly said, "We're not going to look to the past, we're going to look towards the future. We're not going to prosecute anybody." This quote was intended to show a different approach taken by past administrations concerning alleged misconduct by former presidents.
Rogan emphasized the inconsistencies in how the justice system treats different political figures. He criticized the 34 felony charges against Trump, arguing that in most circumstances, they would be considered misdemeanors. "They trumped it up, no pun intended," Rogan noted.
Rogan concluded with reflection on the broader implications of such legal actions against former presidents. He highlighted concerns that these practices could set a dangerous precedent for how political figures are treated. "All crazy -- that's what they don't want you to know," he added, referring to the complexities of the legal and political systems intertwined.
In sum, Joe Rogan's critique of Trump’s conviction points to a larger discussion about political bias and legal standards in the United States.
By comparing Trump's case to previous presidential actions, he exposes what he sees as inconsistencies and potential corruption within the system. The controversy surrounding Trump's conviction continues to spark debate about democracy and justice in America's political landscape.
