- Joe Rogan provocatively suggested Trump should run for California governor after a second presidential term, framing it as a troll and fix-all stunt.
- Rogan and Gov. Gavin Newsom have traded sharp public barbs, with Newsom rebutting Rogan’s criticisms by touting California’s economic strengths.
- The Rogan–Newsom–Trump exchanges exemplify escalating partisan trolling and media spectacle, making the proposal more comedy fodder than a serious plan.
In a recent episode of his wildly popular podcast, The Joe Rogan Experience, comedian and host Joe Rogan tossed out a suggestion that has political junkies buzzing—President Donald Trump should cap off his second term by running for governor of California.
The move, Rogan argued, would be the perfect way to “troll” current Governor Gavin Newsom while supposedly fixing the Golden State’s woes.
This comes amid ongoing barbs between Rogan, a Trump endorser turned occasional critic, and Newsom, who’s been ramping up his own social media jabs at both Trump and his allies.
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Rogan, chatting with U.K. comic Francis Foster and political commentator Konstantin Kisin, painted a picture of California as a place folks are fleeing due to post-pandemic shifts, protests, and what he called a “bad climate” in society.
He likened it to “societal global warming,” urging people to “move north.”
From there, the conversation veered into Trump’s future after his presidency ends in 2029.
Instead of chasing a constitutionally barred third term—something Trump has publicly floated—Rogan proposed a different path: “What Donald Trump should do is when he leaves the office is run for Governor of California and just take over California and fix it.”
He doubled down on the hilarity factor, adding, “It would be hilarious if he did. It would be one of the funniest things of all time if an 82-year-old man steps into the office of governor of California.
‘We’re gonna fix everything. You’ve got a problem with water. I know how to get the water.’ It would be f—ing hilarious.”
Rogan Blasts Newsom for California’s Failures
This isn’t the first time Rogan has taken shots at Newsom.
Just a couple weeks earlier, on another episode, Rogan ripped into the governor’s presidential ambitions, saying, “You can’t ruin a city and then go on to ruin a state and say, ‘Guys, that was just practice. Once I get in as president, I’m gonna fix it all.’”
He hammered home California’s struggles: “Everybody’s LEAVING. You have the highest unemployment. You have the highest homelessness. Money’s missing. You killed Hollywood.
Like, Hollywood doesn’t exist anymore. It’s literally gone. You mandated vaccines for kids that didn’t need them. He did horrible sh*t.”
@VigilantFoxNewsom didn’t take that lying down.
He fired back on X, listing California’s economic wins like being the 4th largest economy globally, tops in manufacturing, farming, new businesses, tech investments, Fortune 500 companies, and public higher education.
He capped it off with a playful challenge: “I could continue… invite me on any time,@joerogan :)”
But he also trolled Rogan with a chicken emoji, implying the podcaster was too scared to host him and expose listeners to “the truth.”
Newsom Goes on Trump Trolling Spree
The feud has only heated up from there. Newsom, known for his sharp social media game, has been on a trolling spree against Trump and his circle.
After Trump threatened to send federal agents to tackle crime in San Francisco—a claim Newsom dismissed as “fictitious” and “right out of the dictator’s handbook”—the governor mocked big-name CEOs, law firms, universities, and media for “groveling” to Trump.
In one post, he joked about selling “signature series” knee pads signed by Trump for those with “sore knees” from bending the knee, shouting in all caps: “YOUR KNEES LOOK VERY SORE FROM ALL YOUR GROVELING. THEY WILL EVEN BE SIGNED BY YOUR DEAR LEADER SINCE YOU LOVE HIM SO MUCH! YOU ARE WELCOME!!!!”
Not stopping at Rogan, Newsom has kept the pressure on Trump directly.
When the president seemed to forget key details about his own first term—like the January 6 events—Newsom pounced, tweeting a jab about Trump’s age and memory lapses.
He even borrowed from an old 1980s Wendy’s ad to mock Trump’s fast-food obsession and policy flip-flops.
Meanwhile, Trump clapped back at Newsom’s earlier attempts to troll him, turning the tables in a way that had his supporters chuckling.
An X user pointed out the irony, suggesting Newsom is just mirroring Trump’s style to get under his skin: “Joe Rogan has no idea that Gavin Newsom is just mimicking Trump to troll him. OMFG Isn’t he meant to be a comedian or something..”
This back-and-forth highlights the deepening divide between red and blue America, with California often at the center of the storm.
Rogan, who moved from L.A. to Texas citing similar gripes about the state’s direction, has endorsed Trump but isn’t afraid to call him out—like when he labeled some of Trump’s enemy-bashing as “nutty.”
As for whether Trump would actually run for governor?
It’s a long shot, but in today’s wild political landscape, stranger things have happened. For now, it’s fodder for podcasts, posts, and plenty of partisan sniping.
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