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Joe Rogan on Tuesday discussed his appearance at the White House this week, addressing the backlash from critics and clarifying what really happened during his dealings with President Donald Trump.
“Are people upset because I was in the White House?” Rogan asked comedian Luis J. Gomez during Tuesday’s episode of “The Joe Rogan Experience” after Gomez noted that others were criticizing Rogan online.
“They’re like, ‘Yo, Joe, you can’t be in the f—ing White House, Joe. You said you’re politically homeless,'” Gomez said.
“I’m here,” Rogan said. “He [Trump] he played with it. He called me free during all of this. You are the same [Rogan doing Trump voice]”Joe, you are very comfortable.”
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Rogan said President Donald Trump responded positively to his comments about ibogaine, telling him that expanding psychedelic research would be “a good thing for the military” and others battling addiction. (Getty Images/”JRE”)
Rogan also pushed back on allegations that Trump met him at a UFC event, saying the story circulating online was incorrect.
“The other thing — the big conspiracy theory — is that Trump is mad at you and he came to the UFC, and he was talking to you,” Gomez said.
“It was literally the opposite,” Rogan said. “He came to me, and he said, ‘It’s done. We’re going to handle this. It’s a good thing for the military, a good thing for everybody.’
Rogan said the interaction stemmed from his talk about ibogaine, a plant-based psychedelic that he says has shown efficacy in treating addiction and PTSD, particularly in veterans.
“I told him about it. I told him how it works,” Rogan said. “And I said it has been held for a long time.”
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Joe Rogan said the backlash followed his visit to the White House, telling the audience that some critics were “upset” and questioned his political independence. (Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC)
He added that Trump appeared open to furthering the legalization process for such treatments after hearing about the issue.
“He said, ‘What do you want? You want FDA approval?’ You go, ‘Sounds good to me.’
Rogan also criticized the federal drug policy, saying the current classification is inconsistent and based on political decisions rather than medical evidence.
“These drugs are illegal because they are dangerous,” said Rogan. “Alcohol is dangerous. It’s legal. Oxycodone is dangerous. It’s legal.
“They’re illegal because of the Controlled Substances Act of 1970. They wanted to silence anti-war and civil rights activists.”
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President Donald Trump proposes an executive order authorizing the drug ibogaine in the Oval Office of the White House on April 18, 2026, in Washington, DC. (Julia Demaree Nikhinson/AP)
Rogan also emphasized caution, although he acknowledged the potential benefits of psychotherapy under controlled conditions.
“I think it should be controlled, make sure it’s clean and make sure it’s run by people who know what they’re doing,” said Rogan.
“You can’t do it if you’re mean-spirited. Obviously, it’s really tough,” Rogan said. “But the people I know who did it, saved them.”
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Rogan pondered broader questions about the legality of alcohol and personal choice when it comes to substances.
“If alcohol is legal — and I think it should be — it’s one of the worst things for you,” Rogan said, “If that s— is legal … how many people are they hurting?”
