California Governor Gavin Newsom recently branded podcast host Joe Rogan an "asshole," intensifying a public back-and-forth between the two that has spanned several months. Newsom made the remark on Monday while filming his own podcast, agreeing with a guest who had been criticizing Rogan and "The Joe Rogan Experience."
This latest exchange follows a pattern of escalating criticisms from Newsom towards Rogan. On July 21, Newsom referred to Rogan as a "chicken" in an X post, lamenting that the podcaster had still not invited him onto his show. Newsom's press team also issued a statement in May, characterizing Rogan as "too scared" to host him and accusing him of making "cheap shots."
Rogan, in turn, has been critical of Newsom for years, with his disdain becoming more public after he relocated from California to Texas in 2020, citing the state's politics. In 2023, Rogan described Newsom as a "con man" and a "stone-cold, narrative-driven politician" who lacks credibility, particularly referencing Newsom's past actions regarding vaccine mandates and mask-wearing policies in California.
The feud gained significant attention in October when Newsom first responded to Rogan's criticisms via X. He shared a clip of Rogan suggesting Newsom desired the presidency and used the opportunity to highlight California's economic strengths, including its status as the world's fourth-largest economy and its leading positions in manufacturing, farming, business startups, tech investments, Fortune 500 companies, and public higher education. Newsom invited Rogan to "invite me on any time" to discuss these points.
Later, when asked about the possibility of hosting Newsom, Rogan expressed skepticism, suggesting that Newsom's strategy of engaging on X was "stupid." Rogan also noted that he had invited Vice President JD Vance onto his show, a move that prompted a critical response from Newsom regarding Vance's future political prospects.
Both Newsom and Vance have not yet officially declared candidacies for the White House, though both are frequently discussed as potential presidential hopefuls. Newsom has been governor of California since 2019.