Podcast host Joe Rogan unloaded on democratic socialists during his Wednesday show, arguing that many supporters of Marxist policies have little understanding of their historical consequences and warning against implementing such ideas across the United States.
Rogan delivered his criticism during a conversation with Steve Hilton, the Republican candidate for California governor who has been endorsed by President Donald Trump.
The podcast host eventually boiled down his assessment of socialism to two words: “It sucks!”
Rogan argued that the recent appeal of socialism among some Americans has largely been driven by social media “manipulation,” rather than people studying Marxist ideology and independently deciding it should be implemented.
“People are really [arguing], ‘Oh maybe being socialist is cool.’ Like, this is all coming out of social media. 100%,” Rogan said.
He added that people are not simply “sitting around reading Marx” and concluding that his ideas should become government policy.
Rogan said many self-described Marxists on social media are unaware of what he described as the historical consequences of Marxist systems.
“Very few of these quote unquote Marxists that you find on social media are even aware of the consequences, the historical consequences of these strategies and what it ultimately leads to,” Rogan said.
He warned that handing control to the state could ultimately leave citizens powerless against a government backed by the military.
Hilton responded, “Exactly! Exactly!”
The California gubernatorial candidate then pointed to state-run grocery stores being promoted by New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani.
Hilton said he had personal experience with socialist grocery stores while visiting his grandmother, who lived behind the Iron Curtain in Hungary.
“It’s just terrible!” Hilton said.
Rogan acknowledged that capitalism can be “brutal,” but argued socialism is not the solution.
He instead expressed support for strong “social safety nets,” pointing to situations such as single mothers losing their jobs and needing financial assistance to feed their children.
Rogan cautioned, however, that overly generous safety nets could have unintended consequences by leaving people with “zero ambition.”
His comments came several weeks after he similarly described socialism as “f*cking nuts.”
The debate also comes after several democratic socialists won Democratic primaries in recent months.
New York Democratic candidates Darializa Avila Chevalier and Claire Valdez are members of the Democratic Socialists of America, as is Mamdani.
The DSA website, beyond its economic agenda, opposes what it calls Trump’s “racist immigration policies” and the U.S. alliance with Israel, which it accuses of committing “genocide” in Gaza.
Trump has also repeatedly attacked socialism and communism.
During his Fourth of July address, Trump described communism as a “cancer” that needed to be confronted quickly.
He offered another warning during a July speech in Georgia.
“With communism, everything turns to sh*t!” Trump said.
On the dangers of socialism and communism, Rogan and Trump appeared to be delivering a similar message.
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