Joe Rogan has defended former Vice President Kamala Harris, saying she would have done “fine” on his three-hour podcast and could have talked for hours if she had accepted his invitation during the 2024 presidential campaign. Rogan addressed the issue during a recent episode of The Joe Rogan Experience, pushing back against claims that Harris would not have been able to handle a long, unscripted conversation.
The comments came during Rogan’s December 31 show, which was later highlighted by Mediaite. Rogan was joined by Australian comedian James McCann, and the two discussed political campaigning and the growing role of podcasts in elections.
The conversation turned to former President Donald Trump’s appearance on Rogan’s podcast in October 2024. Trump completed the full three-hour interview without commercial breaks and without receiving questions in advance. Rogan said he respected Trump’s willingness to sit through such a long discussion.
McCann suggested that Trump’s opponent, Kamala Harris, would not have been able to do the same. Rogan disagreed, saying Harris could have handled the format and that the interview would have gone smoothly.
Rogan challenges claims. Harris would have struggled.
When McCann said Harris “wouldn’t do it,” Rogan responded that she could have done it and would have been fine. He explained that long-form podcasts are very different from traditional television interviews and should not be judged by the same standards.
McCann pointed to Harris’ August appearance on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert as an example of why he believed she would struggle in a long podcast setting. Rogan rejected that idea, saying television interviews in front of live audiences do not allow for real conversations.
Rogan explained that TV interviews are usually limited to a few minutes and are often interrupted by commercials, applause, or scripted segments. He said this makes it difficult for guests to explain their thoughts clearly or explore complex topics.
According to Rogan, even seven minutes is not enough time to ask and answer meaningful questions. He said a quiet room without an audience creates a more relaxed environment, where people can speak freely without worrying about reactions or time limits.
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Rogan added that podcasts are designed for depth, not short soundbites. He said Harris, given enough time, could have comfortably talked through her ideas, experiences, and views without pressure.
Questions Rogan said he wanted to ask Kamala Harris
Rogan shared examples of the questions he would have asked Harris if she had appeared on his show. He said his approach would not have been aggressive and that he had no intention of turning the interview into a hostile exchange.
One question Rogan mentioned involved regret. He said he would have asked Harris whether there were any decisions she regretted or wished she had handled differently during her time in office.
Another topic involved the role of the vice president. Rogan said he wanted to know whether the position was more complicated than Harris expected and how difficult it is to balance responsibility with limited authority.
Rogan also said he would have asked about political influence. He openly acknowledged that large amounts of money are spent trying to influence political decisions and said it would be unrealistic to pretend this does not happen.
He said he would have asked how much pressure politicians feel from donors and powerful groups and how that pressure affects decision-making. Rogan also raised the idea of removing corporate funding from politics and asked whether such a change could improve how governments function.
According to Rogan, these are not quick questions and require time to answer properly. He said discussions like these could easily last for hours without becoming uncomfortable or forced.
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Disagreement over why the interview never happened
Rogan has said his team was in talks with the Harris campaign about a possible interview during the 2024 campaign, but the appearance never took place. He has claimed that the campaign became nervous and ultimately decided not to move forward.
In February 2025, Rogan said Harris could have been comfortable on the show and claimed he would have guided the conversation carefully. He said he had no intention of being antagonistic and did not want to create viral clips or embarrassing moments.
The Harris campaign has disputed Rogan’s account. According to the book Fight: Inside the Wildest Battle for the White House, the disagreement involved scheduling issues and interview conditions requested by Rogan’s team.
Rogan has rejected that explanation and maintained that the decision not to appear was not his. He has repeatedly said he would not conduct hostile interviews and prefers respectful, long-form conversations.
The debate over the missed interview reflects how podcasts have become a major platform in modern political campaigns. Trump’s long-form appearances on popular podcasts, including Rogan’s, are widely believed to have helped him reach new audiences during the 2024 election.
