Joe Rogan, Michael Douglas Criticize Trump's Iran War, Say it Betrays Voters

Podcaster Joe Rogan stated on his show that the war in Iran has angered supporters of President Donald Trump, who he believes voted for the president based on promises to avoid new conflicts. Rogan expressed his disapproval of the war, calling it "really out of hand" and questioning its necessity for the United States.

Actor Michael Douglas, who is Jewish and a supporter of Israel, concurred with Rogan's assessment, describing the conflict as a "giant quagmire" with no easy exit. Rogan acknowledged that some justify the war by pointing to Iran's alleged support for state terrorism, but he questioned the administration's portrayal of the conflict's potential progression. "I don’t think the picture that they painted of how this was going to go down was even remotely accurate," Rogan said.

Douglas suggested the conflict may have been instigated by Israel, citing intelligence that led to strikes on key Iranian leaders. He expressed surprise at the lack of intelligence oversight regarding the situation.

Rogan drew parallels to historical conflicts, such as the Vietnam War, noting that even in controversial wars, there are always defenders. He reiterated that many Trump voters prioritized his non-interventionist stance. "You’re going to get people that support this war," Rogan said. "But I think the majority of the United States felt like one of the things that we were voting for when we voted for Trump is, ‘No more wars.’ Stop this s—. Like, it’s crazy."

Rogan recalled Trump's statements on the conflict in Ukraine, where the president expressed a desire for the fighting to end, and suggested that voters who aligned with this sentiment feel betrayed by the new war in Iran.

Trita Parsi, executive vice president of the Quincy Institute, commented on Rogan's remarks, agreeing that Trump's decision to initiate hostilities with Iran has likely disillusioned anti-war voters. Parsi criticized the gap between Trump's campaign promise of "no more wars" and the current reality of a "war of choice in the Middle East that does not serve U.S. interests."

Parsi also echoed the sentiment that Israel's assessment of Iran's capabilities was inaccurate. He predicted that the war could create divisions within the Republican Party and potentially cause anti-war voters to return to the Democratic Party, especially those who had previously left due to the conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza.

However, White House spokesperson Davis Engle stated that President Trump prioritizes decisive action to ensure American safety and fulfills his promise to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons. Engle asserted that Americans are safer due to Trump's "bold leadership" and that national security decisions are made in the best interest of the American people.

Rogan also touched upon expert warnings regarding Iran's increasing missile production and the potential for the country to acquire nuclear weapons.