Podcasts
Joe Rogan Accuses Trump of Using ICE Crackdowns to Distract From Epstein Files
Podcast giant Joe Rogan has accused Donald Trump of deliberately fueling political chaos to divert public attention from the stalled release of the Jeffrey Epstein files, reigniting debate over transparency, power, and political distraction in Washington.
Speaking on a recent episode of The Joe Rogan Experience with comedian Ehsan Ahmad, Rogan suggested that escalating Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids and controversy surrounding alleged fraud in Minnesota are overshadowing growing questions about why millions of Epstein-related documents remain unreleased—despite a legal mandate.
“I think some of that’s on purpose,” Joe Rogan said quietly during the discussion, implying the turmoil dominating headlines may be strategically timed.
Epstein Files Still Largely Unreleased
Under the Epstein Files Transparency Act, signed into law by Trump, the Department of Justice was required to release all remaining documents related to disgraced financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein by December 19, 2025. Yet earlier this month, the DOJ admitted that more than 2 million documents are still in various stages of review—meaning less than 1 percent of the total material has been made public.
Rogan and Ahmad mocked the administration’s earlier claims of transparency, including a much-publicized White House event last year where MAGA influencers were handed binders supposedly containing Epstein disclosures—only for it to later emerge that the documents included little to no new information.
“So a federal judge said, ‘No, you can’t force them to release it,’ even though you campaigned on it,” Rogan said, criticizing the administration’s apparent retreat from its promises.
ICE Raids and Minnesota Unrest Dominate Headlines
At the same time, national attention has been consumed by unrest in Minneapolis following the fatal shooting of 37-year-old Renee Good by an ICE agent earlier this month. The incident sparked widespread protests and scrutiny of federal immigration enforcement tactics, with images of agents using chemical irritants and force against civilians circulating widely online.
Trump and his allies have also focused heavily on alleged fraud cases in Minnesota, repeatedly tying them to the state’s Somali community—claims that critics argue have inflamed racial tensions and shifted the national conversation away from Epstein.
“It feels like that’s completely drowned out anything about Epstein,” Ahmad said on the podcast, to which Rogan replied, “I think some of that’s on purpose.”
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Rogan’s Growing Break With Trump
Rogan’s comments mark a notable shift for the influential host, who was widely credited with helping Trump mobilize younger and independent voters ahead of the 2024 election. In recent months, Rogan has grown increasingly critical of the president, particularly over transparency and civil liberties.
He also mocked Trump and MAGA figures who once loudly demanded the full release of the Epstein Files but now appear to downplay the issue. “You really ran out, you stood outside with a bunch of binders—‘We’ve got it,’” Rogan said sarcastically.
Pressure Mounts on the DOJ
The controversy has intensified after a federal judge blocked efforts by two members of Congress to appoint an independent monitor to oversee the DOJ’s compliance with the Epstein disclosure law. With no clear timeline for further releases, pressure is mounting on the administration to explain the delays.
As protests, immigration crackdowns, and political firestorms continue to dominate headlines, Joe Rogan’s accusation raises an uncomfortable question: Is chaos itself becoming a tool to keep one of America’s most explosive scandals out of view?
