Podcaster Joe Rogan stated that President Donald Trump may have "f***ed up" taxpayer spending with the war in Iran, suggesting it was not a policy favored by conservatives. Rogan made these remarks during a discussion with British Parliament member Rupert Lowe.
"I mean, this war is not something anybody that's conservative wanted," Rogan said. He further elaborated that while Trump's administration had reportedly reduced funding for the U.S. Agency for International Development, the ongoing conflict in Iran complicated any narrative of fiscal prudence.
Rogan also noted that Trump was elected on a platform that included a desire to avoid new wars. "Most people are horrified by the idea, because Trump was elected — one of the pillars that he stood for, apparently, was that he doesn’t want any more wars," Rogan stated.
Lowe suggested that governments should prioritize the interests of their taxpayers, questioning the tangible benefits of engaging in war. "And there’s only a reason to go to war if it’s going to benefit you, and it was difficult to see what the benefit was," Lowe said.
Rogan, who has previously endorsed Trump, has been critical of the president on various issues, including immigration raids. Regarding the Iran conflict, Rogan had previously expressed uncertainty in May about whether it was beneficial for America or if there was a clear path forward.
A recent Reuters/Ipsos poll indicated that a significant majority of Americans, 3 out of 4, did not believe the war in Iran had been worth its costs. Trump announced on Wednesday that an interim peace deal with Iran was concluded, a development that had faced criticism from within his own Republican Party.
During a press conference at the NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey, Trump described the Iranian leadership as "scum," "sick people," and "vicious, violent people."