Joe Rogan listens to President Donald Trump speak in the Oval Office of the White House, Saturday, April 18, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nickinson)
Joe Rogan described his recent interaction with Donald Trump at a UFC event, pushing back on speculation of a rift between the two.The moment caught attention at UFC 327 in Miami, where his brief exchange with Rogan quickly became a topic of conversation among fans, especially in light of Rogan’s recent public comments about the White House event and broader issues.Speaking on a recent episode of The Joe Rogan Experience, Rogan said his conversation with Trump “wasn’t like he was angry at me at all; it was the opposite,” even as his broader stance on the administration has become more critical in recent months.
What happened at UFC 327
The interaction occurred when Trump attended UFC 327 in Miami on April 11, where he received a more mixed reaction from the crowd than previous appearances alongside UFC president Dana White.
During the event, Trump approached Rogan cageside, sparking speculation among fans about the nature of their conversation. Speaking about this on a recent episode of his podcast, Rogan dismissed the idea of stress. When guest Luis Gomez said: “The big conspiracy theory is that Trump was mad at you, when he came up to you at the UFC, and he was talking to you?”, Rogan replied: “No, it was the opposite.” He then linked the exchange to an earlier discussion about ibogaine, a psychedelic substance he advocated for treating mental health conditions.
“I said how effective it was, and I said it had been postponed for a long time,” Rogan explained. “And he said, ‘What are you looking for?’ Are you looking for FDA approval? “And he says, ‘That sounds good to me.’ He says, ‘Let’s do it!’
Ibogaine controversy grows after Joe Rogan shares details with Donald Trump sparking debate over PTSD treatment and health risks (Image via Getty)
Rogan added that when they met again at a UFC event, Trump followed up directly: “Literally, he saw me at the UFC the next day, shook my hand and said, ‘It’s over.’ That’s what he was saying, and I said, ‘Thank you, sir.’”
It wasn’t like he was mad at me at all; “In fact, it was the opposite.”
Executive order and ibogaine discussion
Days after this exchange, Trump signed an executive order aimed at accelerating research into psychedelic-based treatments. Rogan was present behind the president in the Oval Office during the signing, which Trump said would “dramatically accelerate access to new medical research and drug-based treatments.” The order directs federal agencies to expedite the research, review and potential approval processes for treatments including ibogaine, especially for patients with serious mental health conditions who have not responded to existing treatments.
Referring to Rogan’s role in raising the issue, Trump said during the Oval Office event: “We all respect Joe and he’s a little more liberal than I am. That’s OK. I have a lot of liberal friends. Joe’s a great guy. He wrote me a little note about this, and I reviewed it. And everyone came back with the same answer.”
Rogan criticizes UFC White House card
Despite this access, Rogan has publicly criticized the planned UFC event at the White House, known as UFC Freedom 250 or the White House Card, scheduled for June 14. He confirmed that he would be part of the commentary team but made his reservations about the event clear. “Yes, I’m not happy about this (event),” Rogan said. “Yes, I’ll be there but I’m not happy about it, it doesn’t seem like a wise idea…it’s kind of a gimmick, you know, that’s what it is.” He also noted how fans received the card, noting that expectations may have contributed to the criticism. “And people criticize the card, but if it’s any other card it’s a great card. They’re only criticizing it because they said it would be the greatest card ever.” Rogan added that the venue itself raises logistical and safety concerns. “It would also be a security nightmare.”
Concerns about timing and global tensions
Rogan’s strongest concerns relate to the timing of the event, especially with ongoing tensions involving the United States in the Middle East. “It sounds crazy,” he said on his podcast. “I know there’s going to be very tight security and intense pressure and it’s strange that we’re going into battle in the White House in the middle of a war.” He added that although there is hope for stopping the escalation, he is not convinced that this will happen in time.
He added: “I hope that the war will end by June, but frankly, I am not sure that will be the case.” “That would be weird, having this high-profile event where everyone is in one place at one time.”
A broader shift in Rogan’s stance on Trump
Rogan endorsed Trump before the 2024 election, but his position has since changed, with criticism directed at several areas of policy. He has objected to federal immigration enforcement operations, especially ICE raids, saying agents were targeting “easier picks,” and later argued that masked federal officers were “a problem on our city streets” during operations in Minneapolis in the wake of the fatal shootings of residents Renee Judd and Alex Peretti. On foreign policy, Rogan also questioned the administration’s approach to Iran, suggesting a connection to domestic political issues. “Look, the Epstein files come out, and we’re going to war with Iran,” he said. These positions have established a clearer distance between him and Trump, even as the two continue to interact publicly at events like UFC fights.
Where things stand
Rogan remains involved with the UFC and is still expected to be part of the White House event, though concerns have been raised about Trump’s approach on issues such as immigration, foreign policy and the broader direction of the administration. His continued access and apparent relationship with Trump, including their interactions with the UFC and his appearances in the Oval Office, puts him in the rare position of maintaining a cordial relationship while still publicly opposing areas with which he clearly disagrees.
