Podcast host Joe Rogan fired back at critics of the recent UFC event held at the White House, telling those who attacked attendees over politics to “shut the f*ck up” and arguing that showing up for a night of fights should not be interpreted as an endorsement of any administration policy.
Speaking on The Joe Rogan Experience alongside author Chase Hughes, Rogan reflected on Sunday’s Freedom 250 event, which featured multiple UFC bouts on the South Lawn of the White House. Rogan attended the event in his longtime role as a UFC commentator, a position he has held for decades.
Before the event took place, Rogan had expressed mixed feelings about the unusual venue and timing. He had raised concerns about hosting an outdoor fight card during the ongoing conflict involving Iran and wondered whether weather conditions could become a problem for the fighters.
Looking back after the event concluded, however, Rogan described it in glowing terms and said it exceeded even his high expectations.
“It was insane. Just the magnitude of it was insane,” Rogan said.
The longtime commentator called it the most memorable event he had experienced during his years covering combat sports.
“That was the wildest experience that I’ve ever had in my 20 whatever years of calling combat sports,” he said. “There’s nothing even close.”
Rogan went on to praise the fights themselves, describing the card as historic because every bout ended by knockout.
“It was the greatest night of fights of all time,” he said.
According to Rogan, the uniqueness of the event was apparent long before the first fighters entered the cage. He revealed that he encouraged several friends and acquaintances to attend after some initially considered skipping it.
Among them was comedian Shane Gillis.
Rogan recalled telling Gillis that the event would be something unlike anything seen before in the sport.
“I’m like, ‘Bro, you got to go. It’s going to be epic,’” Rogan said, describing it as a once-ever experience that might never be repeated.
Despite his enthusiasm for the event itself, Rogan reserved some of his strongest comments for critics who accused attendees of making a political statement merely by being present.
He rejected the notion that attending a UFC event at the White House automatically signals support for President Donald Trump’s positions on foreign policy or any other issue.
“Like, they’re mad at people for being there,” Rogan said. “Like, ‘Oh, you support Trump.’ Like, it’s a f*cking fight at the White House. Doesn’t mean you endorse foreign policy.”
Rogan also criticized what he described as excessive political tribalism from both sides of the political spectrum.
He argued that some critics on the left were eager to portray attendance as political support, while some on the right celebrated the event as a broader cultural victory.
“The right celebrates this as a win for masculinity and patriotism and all these different things,” Rogan said. “Like, okay, settle down. Everybody, settle down. You should all be together.”
The evening did take a political turn at one point when fighter Josh Hokit made a controversial comment about former First Lady Michelle Obama during a post-fight interview with Rogan.
“And lastly, Michelle Obama is a man. Am I right, America?” Hokit said.
Rogan did not address the statement directly and instead moved on, saying, “Ladies and gentlemen, Josh Hokit.”
Following the event, UFC president Dana White condemned Hokit’s remarks.
“I understand that the Obamas are public figures, but I’m completely against saying nasty and false things about people’s families,” White told Time. While reiterating his support for free speech, White said he disliked that type of rhetoric.
The debate surrounding the event reflected the broader political tensions that continue to surround public gatherings tied to Washington. Yet Rogan’s message was that not every event needs to become a political battlefield, particularly at a moment when larger national and international disputes already dominate the public conversation.
[READ MORE: Trump Defends Iran Interim Deal, Calls Critics ‘Jealous, Bad People or Stupid’]
