Donald Trump’s running mate, JD Vance, is expected to record an interview with the popular podcast host Joe Rogan on Wednesday morning in an attempt to reach less likely voters, according to two people with direct knowledge of the matter.
The podcast – called the Joe Rogan Experience – is seen as a way to reach young male voters, a demographic the Trump team has placed a premium on reaching given their strategy of trying to win the election through turnout.
Vance’s scheduled interview at 9am would come roughly a week after Trump sat down with Rogan for a three-hour recording that has more than 37m views on YouTube. The show’s colossal reach is such that Trump took time away from the campaign trail to do it.
The interview will be recorded at Rogan’s studio in Austin, Texas, the people said. Afterwards, Vance will travel to the must-win battleground state of Pennsylvania for a town hall event with veterans and former Democratic congresswoman-turned-Trump ally Tulsi Gabbard.
Trump’s interview with Rogan was notable because just two years ago, Rogan declined to have him on the show, saying he considered Trump an “existential threat to democracy”. But Rogan’s position changed after Trump survived an assassination attempt in July, he said.
“Once they shot you, I was like, ‘He’s got to come in here,’” Rogan said. “It’s all about timing.”
Trump covered a wide variety of topics with Rogan. Trump casually floated eliminating federal income tax, suggested there might be extraterrestial life on Mars, and expressed his deep suspicion of pollsters, although he has always boasted about polls that show him winning.
Rogan, a former UFC commentator and comedian, has seen his show become particularly sought after by both presidential candidates this cycle. With Vance locking down an appearance, the Trump campaign will have a monopoly on the show with less than a week until election day.
Trump’s rival, Kamala Harris, had publicized a possible interview with Rogan in recent weeks but an actual interview has yet to materialize. Rogan said on Monday an interview with Harris was still under consideration but that he had refused terms placed on the conversation by the Harris team.
“They offered a date for Tuesday, but I would have had to travel to her and they only wanted to do an hour,” Rogan wrote late on Monday on X. “I strongly feel the best way to do it is in the studio in Austin. My sincere wish is to just have a nice conversation and get to know her as a human being.”
