Joe Rogan Experience #2219 - Donald Trump

In a wide-ranging conversation, Donald Trump discussed his experiences before and during his presidency, highlighting the shift in public perception from his time on shows like "The View" to his political career. He expressed his belief that the media and political establishment coordinated attacks against him, especially during the 2020 election, which he claims was fraught with irregularities. Trump also touched on his administration's achievements, including economic policies and military actions, while criticizing current leadership for handling issues like border security and international relations. He mentioned potential running mate RFK Jr., emphasizing a focus on health and environmental policies, and hinted at future plans to disclose classified JFK files. Throughout, Trump maintained his signature style, blending personal anecdotes with political commentary.

• The podcast discusses the drastic shift in media perception of Donald Trump before and after his presidential run, highlighting the favorable media coverage he received prior to his candidacy and the subsequent coordinated attacks once he became a serious political contender.
• The discussion touches on the role of media figures and outlets in shaping public perception and the impact of media narratives on political careers and public opinion.

"One of the things I wanted to talk to you about... was the episode of you when you're on The View... they were all talking about how you might be conservative in your financial positions but you're very liberal socially."

• This quote illustrates the initial favorable and bipartisan perception of Trump before his presidential run.

"There's probably no one in history that I've ever seen that's been attacked the way you've been attacked and the way they've done it so coordinated and systematically."

• This highlights the perceived systematic media attacks on Trump during and after his presidency.

• Trump describes his transition from a business career to a political one, emphasizing the surreal nature of becoming president and the challenges of appointing key government officials without prior political experience.
• The conversation explores the learning curve involved in understanding the political landscape and the importance of relying on trusted advisors.

"I had a very wonderful life but I wanted to do this... The biggest thing was just that first moment of being in this hallowed place."

• This reflects Trump's motivation for running for president and the initial awe of entering the White House.

"I had to rely on people that I respected or liked but that I didn't know that well because I didn't know them that well."

• This quote underscores the challenges Trump faced in appointing officials due to his lack of political connections.

• Trump discusses the strategic use of tariffs as a tool for economic policy, advocating for their role in protecting American industries and generating revenue.
• The conversation also touches on historical economic policies and the potential for tariffs to replace income taxes.

"To me, the most beautiful word... is the word tariff. It's more beautiful than love, it's more beautiful than anything."

• This highlights Trump's strong belief in tariffs as a key economic strategy.

"Our country was the richest in the relatively in the 1880s and 1890s... we were so rich we had so much money we didn't know what to do."

• This reflects Trump's view on the historical success of tariffs in building American wealth.

• Trump reflects on the difficulties of leadership, including the pressure of media scrutiny, the challenge of making personnel decisions, and the impact of political opposition.
• The discussion includes the significance of maintaining personal authenticity and the role of humor and candidness in political communication.

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

• This quote acknowledges Trump's reflections on personnel decisions during his presidency.

"One of the beautiful things about you is that you free ball... you're making fun of Elon one time you doing an Elon impression."

• This highlights Trump's use of humor and candidness as a communication strategy.

• The podcast addresses issues related to law enforcement, the challenges faced by police officers, and public perceptions of policing.
• The conversation critiques the "defund the police" movement and advocates for better support and appreciation for law enforcement personnel.

"We have to give them back their dignity... you're never going to have it perfect, you're going to have a bad apple in everything."

• This quote emphasizes the need to support and respect police officers despite isolated incidents of misconduct.

"It is such a dangerous job that in particular... think of it you go up to a car you don't know who's sitting there with a gun."

• This underscores the inherent dangers faced by police officers in their line of duty.

• Discussion on the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of Starlink compared to traditional internet infrastructure.
• Criticism of the government's spending on internet access programs that have not yet connected anyone.

"They said could you get him we need Starlink and I call Elon he got it for him so fast saved so many lives and I said how was it they said better than the wires."

• Starlink was implemented quickly and effectively, providing better service than traditional wired internet.

"We're spending a trillion dollars to get cables all over the country right up to Upstate areas where you have like two farms and they're spending millions of dollars."

• Critique of the excessive spending on internet infrastructure in rural areas that could be more efficiently served by Starlink.

• Explanation of the tax cuts during the previous administration and their impact on revenue and economic growth.
• The focus was on encouraging domestic production by reducing taxes for products made in the United States.

"I took it from almost 40% down to 21% now I'm bringing it from 21 down to 15 but only if you make your product in the United States."

• The strategy was to incentivize domestic manufacturing by offering significant tax reductions.

"In the first year we took in much more revenue than we did at almost 40 think of that."

• Despite the tax cuts, revenue increased, suggesting that lower taxes stimulated economic activity.

• Discussion on how the pandemic affected economic plans, including the necessity of supporting businesses to prevent a depression.
• The belief that without the pandemic, the economy would have been strong enough to start paying off national debt.

"We were ready to rock and roll and then we had the COVID thing and we had to focus on that and if we didn't give some businesses a hand that would have all you would have had a depression like in 1929."

• The pandemic forced a shift in focus from economic growth to crisis management to avoid a depression.

"If we didn't have COVID we would have been paying off debt and we would have had and don't forget by growth the word growth is actually more important."

• Without the pandemic, there was confidence that economic growth would have allowed for debt reduction.

• Criticism of environmental regulations as tools to hinder economic development and growth.
• Discussion on how environmental impact studies can be manipulated to delay or halt projects.

"The environmental is the biggest tool for stopping growth the biggest tool the other is regulation."

• Environmental regulations are seen as a significant barrier to economic development.

"They could slow a project down 10 years 15 years I had a project in Louisiana built big LG plant it was uh for 14 years."

• Environmental impact studies can significantly delay projects, impacting economic progress.

• Discussion on the balance between energy production, environmental concerns, and economic impact.
• Critique of the reliance on wind energy and the potential of nuclear power as a cleaner energy source.

"I think windmills are really disruptive when you talk about the environment they kill the birds you want to see a bird Cemetery go under a windmill someday."

• Windmills are criticized for their environmental impact, particularly on bird populations.

"Nuclear is better I mean I I think there's a little danger to nuclear but you know we had some really bad nuclear."

• Nuclear power is considered a better alternative, despite past disasters, due to advancements in technology.

• Discussion on election results, interference, and the credibility of polling.
• Criticism of how polls are conducted and their influence on public perception.

"I really don't believe too much in them so well 2016 taught a lot of people about the ineffective."

• Skepticism about the accuracy and effectiveness of polls based on past experiences.

"Was there legitimate election interference in suppressing the Hunter Biden laptop story on social media and was that a concerted effort."

• The question of election interference is raised, particularly concerning media influence and information suppression.

• Discussion on international relations, particularly with Russia and China, and military strategy.
• Criticism of the handling of the Afghanistan withdrawal and its implications.

"I told him I said Vladimir you're not going in I used to talk to him all the time you're not going in."

• Assertive diplomatic communication was used to prevent military conflicts.

"You take the soldiers out last not first okay that was their big mistake."

• Critique of the strategy used in the Afghanistan withdrawal, emphasizing the importance of military order.

These notes provide a comprehensive overview of the key themes discussed in the transcript, capturing the nuances and details of each topic.

• The discussion critiques the withdrawal strategy from Afghanistan, emphasizing the importance of Bagram Air Base.
• There is criticism of military leadership, particularly General Milley, for leaving behind military equipment.
• The narrative highlights the success against ISIS due to effective military leadership and strategy.

"They should have left from Bagram... I said I want every plane, I want every tank, I want the goggles, the night goggles... He said, sir, it's cheaper to get out and leave it."

• The quote underscores the disagreement over military withdrawal strategy, focusing on the perceived incompetence in leaving valuable equipment.

"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."

• This quote highlights the rapid success against ISIS attributed to effective military strategy and leadership.

• The conversation discusses the diplomatic relationship with North Korea, focusing on personal diplomacy.
• Emphasizes the importance of direct communication and understanding with Kim Jong-un to prevent conflict.

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

• This quote illustrates the perceived success in diffusing tensions with North Korea through diplomatic engagement.

"I said, I have a red button also, but mine's bigger than yours and mine works."

• The quote reflects the assertive diplomatic stance taken to manage relations with North Korea.

• The discussion highlights concerns about illegal immigration and its impact on communities.
• Criticizes policies allowing the influx of migrants into swing states and the strain on local resources.

"Springfield, Ohio, is this very nice community of 52,000 people that just had 32,000 migrants... dropped into their community."

• This quote highlights the dramatic demographic changes in local communities due to immigration policies.

"We have countries right now, you have five countries, and don't underestimate North Korea... their nuclear stockpile is substantial."

• This quote connects immigration concerns with national security issues, emphasizing the need for stringent border control.

• The conversation delves into the growth and appeal of UFC, contrasting it with traditional boxing.
• Discusses the safety and entertainment value of UFC compared to boxing.

"No UFC fighter, they say, has ever died, and it looks to me much more violent than boxing."

• The quote emphasizes the perceived safety of UFC despite its violent appearance compared to boxing.

"Dana is working with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia... they're going to start promoting boxing now."

• This quote highlights efforts to revitalize boxing through strategic partnerships and promotions.

• Focus on health issues related to diet, lifestyle, and environmental factors.
• Discusses potential collaboration with RFK Jr. on health initiatives, with caution regarding environmental policies.

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

• This quote underscores the impact of health issues on national security and military readiness.

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

• The quote reflects a cautious approach to environmental policies while focusing on health initiatives.

• Critiques media bias and its role in shaping public perception.
• Discusses the challenges of receiving fair media coverage as a conservative.

"I don't think I've had a good story in years... I really don't."

• This quote highlights the perceived media bias and the struggle for balanced coverage.

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

• The quote criticizes the media for perceived partisanship and its impact on public discourse.

• Discusses the role of social media, particularly TikTok, in engaging with younger audiences.
• Highlights the shift in youth political alignment and the impact of digital platforms.

"I'm on TikTok now... it's had a huge impact."

• This quote reflects the strategic use of social media to reach and influence younger demographics.

"Young people are rejecting a lot of this woke... they're tired of these people that they think are mentally ill telling them what the moral standards of society should be today."

• The quote emphasizes a cultural shift among young people towards conservative values as a form of rebellion.

• Discussion about the political climate where liberals are perceived as supporting censorship and silencing criticism.
• Accusations of using political power to investigate opponents unjustly, compared to historical figures like Al Capone.
• Claims of political weaponization against opponents, specifically targeting Trump.

"The Liberals are now pro-silencing criticism. They're pro-censorship online. They're talking about regulating free speech and regulating the First Amendment."

• This quote highlights the perception that liberals are supporting censorship and regulating free speech, which is seen as contradictory to traditional liberal values.

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

• Trump compares his investigations to those of notorious criminal Al Capone, suggesting that they are politically motivated rather than based on wrongdoing.

• Trump asserts that the 2020 election was fraudulent and presents examples to support his claim.
• Discussion of legislative approval issues, ballot access, and intelligence agents' misinformation.
• Emphasis on the narrative of election rigging and the impact of misinformation on public perception.

"That election was so crooked. It was the most crooked election."

• Trump claims the 2020 election was the most fraudulent in history, emphasizing the severity of his allegations.

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

• Trump discusses misinformation spread by intelligence agents about Hunter Biden's laptop, which he claims affected the election outcome.

• Criticism of the traditional debate format and suggestions for a more conversational approach.
• Emphasis on the importance of free and fair press and the need for open discussions without time constraints or crowd influence.

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

• Trump criticizes the current debate format for limiting the depth of discussion on complex issues.

"You and Kamala, you sit across a table with no one in the room but the two of you."

• Suggests a more intimate and direct format for debates, focusing on genuine conversation rather than performance.

• Concerns about mail-in ballots and electronic voting machines as potential sources of election fraud.
• Advocacy for paper ballots and voter ID as measures to ensure election integrity.
• Criticism of policies perceived as enabling election fraud, such as lack of voter ID requirements.

"Unless you have paper ballots, it can never be an honest election."

• Emphasizes the belief that paper ballots are essential for ensuring election integrity.

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

• Criticizes the opposition to voter ID, suggesting it is essential for fair elections and questioning the motives behind its rejection.

• Discussion on the potential for de-escalation with China and Russia and the importance of strong leadership.
• Critique of the current administration's handling of international relations and military decisions.
• Emphasis on the use of economic leverage, such as tariffs, in foreign policy negotiations.

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

• Highlights the importance of addressing nuclear threats and the need for strategic de-escalation.

"I stopped other wars just by the use of tariffs."

• Trump emphasizes his approach of using economic measures like tariffs to influence international relations and prevent conflicts.

• Discussion on the JFK files and the decision to withhold certain information due to potential impacts on living individuals.
• Interest in transparency regarding unidentified aerial phenomena (UAPs) and the information shared with government officials.

"If I win, I'm going to open them up. I'm just going to open them."

• Trump promises to release the JFK files if elected, suggesting a commitment to transparency.

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

• Indicates ongoing interest and investigation into UAPs and the credibility of reports from military personnel.

• Critique of current economic policies and the outsourcing of manufacturing, particularly in technology and chip production.
• Advocacy for tariffs and incentives to encourage domestic production and reduce reliance on foreign manufacturing.

"All you had to do is charge them tariffs."

• Suggests using tariffs as a tool to encourage domestic manufacturing and reduce dependency on foreign production.

"We lost the chip business, and now we think we're going to pay."

• Critiques the loss of the semiconductor industry to foreign competitors and the approach to rebuilding domestic capabilities.