Joe Rogan Experience #2219 - Donald Trump

In a lengthy and wide-ranging conversation, Donald Trump discusses his experiences as president, touching on topics such as his relationships with world leaders, the challenges of navigating political and military decisions, and his views on current U.S. political dynamics. He reflects on the 2020 election, asserting it was rigged, and shares his plans to release the JFK files if re-elected. Trump also criticizes the Biden administration's handling of international relations and domestic policies, particularly on immigration and energy. He expresses admiration for Elon Musk and discusses the potential for nuclear energy and space exploration. The conversation also covers Trump's thoughts on health policies, his relationship with Robert F. Kennedy Jr., and the influence of media narratives.

• The discussion highlights the shift in media and public perception of Donald Trump before and after his presidency.
• Initially, Trump was well-received and praised by media personalities, but this changed when he entered politics.
• The conversation touches on the coordinated efforts to attack Trump's image once he became a political figure.

"Whoopi Goldberg gives you a big hug and a kiss, Joy Behar gives you a big hug, Barbara Walters gives you a big hug. They all loved you."

• This quote illustrates the positive interactions Trump had with media figures before his political career, contrasting with later criticism.

"There's probably no one in history that I've ever seen that's been attacked the way you've been attacked."

• This highlights the intense scrutiny and criticism Trump faced during his presidency, suggesting a significant change in how he was perceived.

• Trump discusses his decision to leave a successful television career to run for president, despite advice against it.
• The conversation delves into the challenges of transitioning from a business background to a political role.
• Trump reflects on the surreal experience of entering the White House and adapting to the responsibilities of the presidency.

"I had a very wonderful life, but I wanted to do this."

• This statement emphasizes Trump's motivation to pursue the presidency despite having a successful career in television.

"It was a different life because you're right, The View... they loved me."

• Trump acknowledges the stark contrast in his public image before and after his political career began.

• The discussion explores the challenges Trump faced as a political outsider with no prior governing experience.
• Trump shares insights into the process of appointing officials and the difficulties in selecting individuals for key positions.
• The conversation touches on the pressure and responsibilities of managing a large number of appointments.

"I had no experience. You have to understand I was there 17 times in Washington and I never stayed over."

• This quote underscores Trump's lack of political experience and familiarity with Washington before becoming president.

"The biggest mistake I made was I picked some people I picked some great people... I picked some people that I shouldn't have picked."

• Trump reflects on the challenges of appointing the right people and acknowledges mistakes in his choices.

• The conversation addresses perceived media bias and the challenges Trump faced from the press.
• Trump discusses the difficulties of navigating media narratives and public perception during his presidency.
• The discussion highlights the role of media in shaping political discourse and influencing public opinion.

"The Press is so crooked... they're killing all their credibility and it's opening up the credibility to New Media."

• Trump criticizes traditional media for bias and suggests that it is losing credibility, paving the way for alternative media sources.

"If you watch the episode, it's bananas. It's like an alternative universe and it's only a few years ago."

• This quote reflects on the drastic change in media portrayal of Trump over a short period.

• Trump discusses various policy positions and political strategies, including tariffs and economic measures.
• The conversation touches on Trump's views on international trade and economic policies aimed at benefiting the U.S.
• Trump emphasizes the importance of tariffs and suggests potential reforms to the tax system.

"To me, the most beautiful word and I've said this for the last couple of weeks in the dictionary today and any is the word tariff."

• This quote highlights Trump's belief in tariffs as a critical economic tool to protect American interests.

"Were we serious about that? Yeah, sure. Why not?"

• Trump entertains the idea of replacing income taxes with tariffs, indicating his openness to significant economic reforms.

• Discussion on the inefficiencies and waste in government spending on internet infrastructure, particularly the $42 billion spent without connecting a single person.
• Comparison of traditional internet infrastructure to Starlink, highlighting its effectiveness and cost-efficiency.
• Criticism of the construction of charging stations in the Midwest, with significant expenditure and operational failures.

"They spent $42 billion; they could have gotten Starlinks to everybody with that kind of money for almost nothing."

• The quote highlights the inefficiency and waste in government spending on internet infrastructure, suggesting that Starlink could have been a more effective solution.

• Explanation of tax policy changes during the administration, including reducing the corporate tax rate from nearly 40% to 21%, and plans to reduce it further to 15% for domestic manufacturing.
• Discussion on the impact of these tax cuts on revenue and economic growth, including repatriation of overseas funds by companies like Apple.
• Mention of the strategy to handle the deficit and debt, which was disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

"I made it great with a much lower tax rate so I took it from almost 40% down to 21%."

• This quote outlines the tax reduction strategy aimed at stimulating economic growth and increasing revenue despite lower tax rates.

• Criticism of environmental regulations as tools to hinder economic growth and development.
• Examples of how environmental studies and regulations can delay or stop projects, with claims of consultants benefiting financially from the process.
• Discussion on the balance between environmental protection and economic development, with a focus on oil drilling and fracking.

"They use environmental in order to get people not to do anything."

• The quote suggests that environmental regulations are often used as a barrier to economic activity and development.

• Discussion on the inefficiencies and environmental impacts of renewable energy sources like windmills.
• Arguments in favor of nuclear energy as a cleaner and more efficient alternative, despite political and public perception challenges.
• Criticism of reliance on foreign oil and the potential of domestic resources like ANWR in Alaska.

"Windmills are really disruptive when you talk about the environment; they kill the birds."

• This quote criticizes wind energy for its environmental impact, particularly on wildlife, and questions its effectiveness.

• Discussion on the skepticism around election results and polling accuracy, with references to past elections and polling discrepancies.
• Criticism of the media and polling organizations for potentially influencing public perception and voter turnout.
• Mention of personal experiences and theories regarding polling practices and election fraud.

"I was down 17 points in Wisconsin, and I won."

• The quote illustrates the speaker's skepticism about polling accuracy and suggests potential manipulation in reporting poll results.

• Discussion on relationships with foreign leaders and the impact of leadership on international conflicts, specifically Russia and China.
• Claims of having prevented conflicts through strong diplomatic relations and economic strategies, such as controlling oil prices.
• Criticism of current administration's handling of international affairs, particularly with Russia and Afghanistan.

"Russia would have never gone into Ukraine if I were president."

• This quote asserts that the speaker's diplomatic approach would have prevented the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

• Criticism of current political leaders and their ability to manage the country effectively.
• Discussion on the importance of cognitive ability in leadership roles and the need for cognitive testing for candidates.
• Mention of specific domestic issues, such as water management in California and the handling of forest fires.

"I think anybody that runs for president should take they should give him test."

• The quote emphasizes the speaker's belief in the importance of cognitive testing for presidential candidates to ensure effective leadership.

• Discussion of military withdrawal strategies, particularly focusing on the importance of strategic bases like Bagram.
• Criticism of military leadership, specifically targeting General Milley, for decisions made during the withdrawal from Afghanistan.
• Emphasis on the efficiency and success in defeating ISIS with competent military generals.

"You should have never left Bagram number one. They should have left from Bagram. They should have left last."

• Explanation: Emphasizes the strategic importance of Bagram Air Base and criticizes the decision to abandon it first during military withdrawal.

"I defeated 100% of the ISIS caliphate. They said it would take five years. I did it in a matter of a few, literally a few weeks."

• Explanation: Highlights the speaker's claim of rapid success in defeating ISIS under their leadership, contrasting with previous estimates.

• Discussion on diplomatic relations with North Korea, highlighting personal rapport with Kim Jong-un.
• Concerns about nuclear capabilities of various countries, including North Korea, and the potential threat they pose.

"Obama thought we were going to go to war with North Korea. By the time I finished, we had no problem with North Korea."

• Explanation: Describes a shift from potential conflict to peaceful relations with North Korea during the speaker's administration.

"One bomb could take out the entire East Coast. It's so bad."

• Explanation: Emphasizes the destructive potential of nuclear weapons and the importance of maintaining a strong nuclear deterrent.

• Criticism of current immigration policies and the impact of allowing large numbers of migrants into the country.
• Discussion on the strategic placement of migrants in swing states and the societal impact on local communities.

"Springfield, Ohio, is this very nice community of 52,000 people that just had 32,000 migrants that don't speak the language dropped into their community."

• Explanation: Illustrates the drastic demographic changes and challenges faced by local communities due to immigration policies.

"We have people coming in that when other countries are allowed to empty their prisons into our country with murderers."

• Explanation: Expresses concerns over the security risks associated with current immigration policies and the types of individuals entering the country.

• Discussion on health issues in the U.S., including the impact of diet and lifestyle on life expectancy.
• Mention of collaboration with RFK Jr. on health initiatives, while expressing caution about environmental policies, particularly regarding oil and gas.

"More than 70% of young men are ineligible for the military because of their health."

• Explanation: Highlights the significant health challenges facing young Americans, particularly obesity, and its implications for military readiness.

"I love oil and gas. I think, you know, I think keep him out of that to fire."

• Explanation: Shows the speaker's support for the oil and gas industry and intention to limit RFK Jr.'s influence on environmental policies.

• Criticism of media bias and its role as a propaganda arm for the Democratic Party.
• Discussion on the challenges faced by conservatives in receiving fair media coverage.

"I never get a good story. I only get bad press."

• Explanation: Expresses frustration with perceived negative media coverage and lack of positive reporting on the speaker's achievements.

"The media, to a large extent, acts as a propaganda arm for the Democratic Party."

• Explanation: Accuses the media of being biased and serving the interests of the Democratic Party rather than providing objective reporting.

• Discussion on the speaker's involvement and interest in sports, particularly golf and UFC.
• Mention of the benefits of sports for mental and physical health, including personal anecdotes about playing golf.

"I've won 32 club championships."

• Explanation: Highlights personal achievements in golf, emphasizing the speaker's competitive nature and passion for the sport.

"The only reason why I do MMA commentary is because I'm very interested in it for real."

• Explanation: Reflects genuine interest and enthusiasm for MMA, which translates into authentic and engaging commentary.

• Discussion on liberals advocating for censorship and regulating free speech.
• Claims of being investigated more than historical criminals due to political opposition.
• Allegations of political opponents using power to silence and imprison adversaries.

"The Liberals are now Pro-silencing criticism. They're Pro-censorship online. They're talking about regulating free speech."

• This quote highlights the concern about the perceived shift in liberal policies towards restricting free speech.

"I've been investigated more than Al Capone only because it's political opponent stuff."

• The speaker compares their investigations to those of a notorious criminal, suggesting political motivations behind these investigations.

• Claims of a rigged and stolen 2020 election.
• Allegations of procedural violations and lack of legislative approval for changes in voting processes.
• Discussion of intelligence agents influencing narratives against the speaker.

"They were supposed to get legislative approval to do the things they did, and they didn't get it."

• This quote addresses the claim that changes in voting procedures were not legally sanctioned.

"51 intelligence agents come up that the laptop was from Russia. It turned out to be totally false."

• The speaker asserts that misinformation was deliberately spread by intelligence agents to influence election outcomes.

• Criticism of traditional debate formats with time constraints.
• Preference for open, unrestricted conversations between political candidates.
• Discussion on the effectiveness of debates in front of large audiences.

"I hate the idea of the presidential debates because I hate the idea of a time limitation on complex ideas."

• This quote critiques the limitations of debate formats in facilitating meaningful political discourse.

"Have two people just have a conversation without a time constraint."

• The speaker suggests an alternative approach to debates, emphasizing genuine dialogue over structured formats.

• Advocacy for voter ID to ensure fair elections.
• Criticism of policies perceived to enable election fraud.
• Discussion on the importance of secure and transparent voting processes.

"Voter ID is the most bizarre argument that I've never seen anybody articulate in a way that's convincing."

• This quote underscores the speaker's belief in the necessity of voter ID laws for election integrity.

"No voter ID because they want to cheat."

• The speaker argues that the absence of voter ID requirements facilitates electoral fraud.

• Concerns about global military threats, particularly nuclear weapons.
• Discussion on strategies to deescalate tensions with Russia and China.
• Criticism of current administration's handling of international relations.

"The biggest threat we have in the world today is nuclear weapons."

• This quote highlights the speaker's focus on the dangers posed by nuclear arsenals.

"If I were there, it would have never happened."

• The speaker expresses confidence in their ability to prevent conflicts through effective diplomacy.

• Discussion on the decision to withhold certain government files, such as the JFK files.
• Consideration of national security and the impact on living individuals.
• Commitment to releasing withheld information if elected.

"If they showed you what they showed me, you wouldn't want people to know it either."

• The speaker suggests that sensitive information could have significant implications if released.

"I'm going to open them up. I'm just going to open them."

• The speaker promises transparency and the release of government files if they return to office.

• Interest in unidentified aerial phenomena and potential extraterrestrial life.
• Conversations with credible witnesses, including military pilots.
• Speculation on the nature and origin of unexplained aerial objects.

"I interviewed jet pilots that say they saw something."

• This quote indicates the speaker's engagement with credible sources on the topic of UFOs.

"There's no reason not to think that Mars and all these planets don't have life."

• The speaker entertains the possibility of extraterrestrial life beyond Earth.

• Criticism of current trade policies and reliance on foreign manufacturing.
• Advocacy for tariffs to encourage domestic production.
• Discussion on the economic impact of outsourcing and trade deficits.

"Wouldn't it be better to have an American-made iPhone?"

• This quote reflects the speaker's desire for increased domestic manufacturing and economic self-sufficiency.

"You could have done it with a series of tariffs."

• The speaker suggests tariffs as a tool to promote domestic industry and reduce reliance on foreign imports.