While President Donald Trump has hinted at or outright talked about running for president again (which, just so we’re clear, violates the Constitution), Joe Rogan has another idea. The Joe Rogan Experience host suggested that Trump, while in his 80s, could run for office again: as governor of California. Rogan seemed to think that Trump would be able to “fix” California — but beyond that, the idea just seemed “hilarious” to him.
“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,” Rogan said. “It would be hilarious if he did.”
Gavin Newsom has been serving as California’s governor since 2019. Because this is his second term, the state will elect a new governor in 2026 during Trump’s presidency. Though Rogan was clearly just trolling, he still found it amusing to think about “an 82-year-old man” taking Newsom’s place. “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,” Rogan said. “‘We’re gonna fix everything. You’ve got a problem with water. I know how to get the water.’ It would be [expletive] hilarious.”
Joe Rogan is not interested in talking with Gavin Newsom:
— Joe Rogan Podcast News (@joeroganhq) August 9, 2025
"It's not like I'm opposed to talking to Democratic politicians. I'll talk to anybody, but that guy."pic.twitter.com/GHkoLB2Elh
According to Rogan, something has shifted in California in recent years and “everybody went crazy.” He blamed it on “the pandemic and the Black Lives Matter protests and the riots and all the chaos.” And, presumably, Newsom.
Rogan is clearly not a fan of Newsom and previously asserted that the governor “ruined” California, the New York Post reported. “You can’t ruin a city and then go on to ruin a state and then say, ‘Guys, that was just practice. Once I get in as president I’m going to fix it all,'” Rogan said.
JOE ROGAN IS A SNACK-SIZED PODCASTER WHO CAN’T STOP TALKING ABOUT ME (OBSESSED! "CRUSH?" NO THANK YOU!) BUT IS TOO SCARED TO HAVE ME ON AND LET HIS AUDIENCE HEAR THE TRUTH. JUST LIKE DOZY DON HE OFTEN “CHICKENS OUT”. I'VE NEVER HAD ANY PROBLEMS WITH THE GUY AND WISH THE MINI HOST…
— Governor Newsom Press Office (@GovPressOffice) October 15, 2025
In response, Newsom said Rogan should invite him on his podcast. Calling Rogan a “son of a b—-,” Newsom suggested that Rogan was too scared to have him on the podcast because he would actually challenge him. “Joe, why won’t you have me on the show?” Newsom said on the YouTube show Higher Learning. “He won’t have me on the show. It’s a one way and he has guests coming on, attacking and bashing, but he won’t have me on the show. Full stop. He should have me on the show.”
He added, “I’m not afraid to go — I’m punching Joe Rogan, that son of a b—- is not used to that.”
