Completely dismiss any illusion of post-debate or post-attempted attack increases in the polls for Donald Trump. Joe Rogan, in his characteristic way, asserts that Kamala Harris has the 2024 presidential election in the bag. ‘She’s destined for victory,’ Rogan shared with guest Michael Malice during a recent episode of The Joe Rogan Experience. ‘We find ourselves in a bizarre era where people are embracing absurdity in a manner that is way beyond what I ever imagined possible,’ Rogan added. ‘They simply want a world devoid of Trump, at any cost, even if it means deceiving themselves.’
Both Rogan and Malice shared a mutual understanding that they thought the failed assassination attempt on Trump on July 13 would have permanently shifted the election dynamics. However, Rogan did admit that due to the whirlwind of news that week, the incident seemed to have faded into obscurity, especially after Biden’s decision to step down and Harris’ sudden leap into the presidential race.
Rogan then dished out a dose of what he saw as stark reality. ‘Everyone has maintained Kamala Harris is the worst vice president,’ Rogan stated. ‘She’s seen as the least popular vice president in history, but suddenly, she’s been elevated as some sort of superhero solution. She’s been hailed as our savior. Everyone seems to be endorsing her. The social media landscape is swamped with posts about her. Try to hunt down a negative story about her; good luck finding one.’
Rogan reinforced his statement when Malice queried him. ‘I’m telling you this because she could potentially win. I’m not voicing this opinion because I anticipate it or because I want it to happen. I’m merely expressing my honest perspective. I wouldn’t be surprised to see her emerge victorious.’ Rogan’s history littered with disparaging comments about Trump seems to pale in comparison to his explosive proclamation.
Meanwhile, Rogan’s podcast has often become a platform for controversial guests, including prominent right-wing figures such as Tucker Carlson, Alex Jones, and, peculiarly, business magnate Elon Musk—with whom he often found common ground. Interestingly, he also attempted to suggest last year that President Joe Biden was just as prone to deception as the infamously lying ex-president, which led to a heated discussion with HBO’s Bill Maher.
Indeed, the narrative spun by Rogan and his cronies seems to underline a concession that Harris may coast to victory in the 2024 presidential election, largely due to her sudden and unexpected surge in popularity thanks to social media support and Biden’s decision to step down from the race. However, this narrative seems to be quite a departure from Harris’ earlier status as universally ‘the worst vice president.’
But the question arises: how genuine is this newfound adulation for Harris? While surface-level social media posts are overwhelmingly positive, do they represent the real sentiments of the average voter, or is this simply reflective of a bias for anyone-but-Trump?
Rogan himself seems to caution against drawing any definite conclusions from this surge in support for Harris. After all, it appears to be an emotional and irrational backlash to the turmoil associated with Trump’s presidency—rather than a reflection of Harris’ credentials, merit or popularity.
Despite these caveats, however, Rogan’s underlying argument still raises eyebrows. He does not seem to express any personal affinity or support for Harris—in fact, he echoes sentiment about her past performance as the ‘worst vice president’. Yet, he stresses that he envisions her standing victorious in the 2024 presidential election, a sobering thought that hints at the unpredictable nature of American politics in the current environment.
Still, looking past Rogan’s perspectives, it’s essential to remember how misleading the court of public opinion can be, particularly when it heavily relies on the echo chamber that social media platforms effectively become. Therefore, Harris’ emerging popularity may not necessarily translate into a guaranteed win in 2024, particularly if the ‘anyone but Trump’ sentiment dissipates over time.