As the gap between Donald Trump’s campaign promises and his actual record continues to widen, several comedians associated with the Rogan podcast circle have begun speaking out publicly. Their reactions range from frustration to outright disillusionment, particularly around issues like war spending and government priorities.
Tim Dillon was among the most direct in his criticism, describing what he sees as a fundamental betrayal of the movement’s original message.
“It’s the greatest con in history. I mean, truly, it’s the greatest. And I don’t say great like a good way. It is truly the most successful con in history,” he said. “It makes Enron look like a guy doing three card monte on the street.”
He continued, “This is the greatest con in history to run as America first and you’re going to take care of America and then turn around and go, you know, all of these things, daycare, Medicare, Medicaid, we have nothing to do with that. We’re in wars. That’s what we’re here to do. We’re here to have a defense budget of 1.5 trillion and we’re here for wars. It is the greatest scam in history.”
He continued by criticizing proposed cuts to social programs while military spending increases.
“They’ve done nothing they said they were going to do,” he said. “And now they’re going to cut Medicare and all of these programs so that we can fund the military and we’re going to have like a $1.2 trillion military budget, which is the exact opposite of what they said they were going to do. And this administration of morality is led by a thrice married gambling tycoon.”
Duncan Trussell expressed a similar sense of disappointment, focusing specifically on the issue of foreign conflict and the reversal of anti-war rhetoric.
“I feel so st*pid because when they were doing their no war thing, that was a big deal to me,” he said. “I’m like, yes, you know, yes, this is great. No more wars. Yes. Focus on the country. Why are we blowing up children in other countries for oil? This is great. And now, isn’t it mind-blowing that it is now literally flipped it on its side.”
Libertarian commentator Dave Smith was equally blunt, signaling that his political identity is not tied to any slogan or movement.
“If not supporting covering up the Epstein files or not supporting a st*pid war of choice, a war of aggression on behalf of Israel means I’m not MAGA, then okay, I’m not MAGA,” he said. “I’m not attached to the phrase Make America Great Again. I don’t care.”
During an appearance on The Joe Rogan Experience, comedian Theo Von voiced frustration in more personal and emotional terms, particularly about who bears the cost of war.
“I’m sick of this s**t,” he said. “And I’m sick of rich people not putting their kids over in these wars and stuff like that. Put your honky a*s kids up there. Let them go shed some blood. Especially if you’re out there bullsh**ting, dude. Put your fancy a*s kid up there.”
Meanwhile, Andrew Schulz addressed criticism from his own audience, explaining that he does not feel responsible for policies he believes contradict campaign promises.
“They’ll DM me be like, ‘You see what your boy’s doing? You voted for this,'” he said. “I’m like, I voted for none of this. He’s doing the exact opposite of everything I voted for. I want him to stop the wars. He’s funding them. I want him to shrink spending, reduce the budget. He’s increasing it. It’s like everything that he said he’s going to do, except sending immigrants back. That’s all I got.”
