Joe Rogan debated fellow comedian Harland Williams on Friday about President Donald Trump and his war on Iran.
Rogan summed up the thoughts of recent podcast guest Scott Horton, an author and anti-war activist, who argued that Israeli interests dragged the U.S. into the conflict.
“Essentially, this is Israel wanting us to go to this war,” said Rogan, adding that the take “makes sense.”
The “Joe Rogan Experience” host said he doesn’t support the war and its lack of an exit strategy after the U.S. spent 20 years and trillions of taxpayer dollars in Afghanistan, only for Williams to ask if Rogan doesn’t “like the concept that Iran can’t have nuclear weapons.”
Williams, a Canadian-American actor best known for his roles in “Dumb and Dumber” and “Half Baked,” argued Trump’s war on Iran, ostensibly intended to prevent Iran from having nuclear weapons, is a more “positive agenda” than targeting Taliban-linked Afghans growing opium.
“That’s true if it made sense,” Rogan countered Friday. “The problem is, I had Scott Horton on the podcast explaining what is actually involved in making depleted uranium, and making it weapons-grade, and what would have to be done in order to get it to a bomb level … It’s very difficult. It’s not as simple, and they weren’t nearly capable of doing that.”
“Not nearly, but pursuing,” Williams countered.
Rogan also said he understands why Israel would want war with Iran. If Mexico were building a nuclear weapon next door to America and was “constantly in conflict” with the U.S., Rogan said, “that would be a good reason” for America to “want to go fuck up” Mexico.
“Like, ‘Hey, you can’t have a nuclear bomb,’” said Rogan.
“This is Israel’s position, and Israel is right there with Iran, they’re close enough to throw missiles at each other. I get why they want it,” he continued. “I don’t know if it’s a good thing for America. And I don’t know if there’s a way out of it.”
Rogan noted earlier in the show that he likes it when Trump does “wild shit” like organizing an Ultimate Fighting Championship event on the White House South Lawn. He endorsed Trump in the 2024 election, but has also split with him and his administration on a number of issues.
The podcaster has decried the president’s “horrific” deportations, “insane” immigration raids and “terrifying” war on Iran. He recently torched Palantir, the tech company streamlining data on U.S. citizens for the federal government, for calling for a military draft amid the Iran war.