Joe Rogan has never been one to keep his mouth shut, and this time he’s got a new idea that’s got folks talking. On a recent episode of his podcast, he said President Donald Trump should run for governor of California once his second term in the White House wraps up. Rogan laughed and said, “It would be hilarious,” but let’s be honest—there’s more to this than just a joke.
Here’s the thing: California is a mess. Anyone who’s driven through the streets of Los Angeles or San Francisco can see it. Homeless camps, crime, high taxes, businesses fleeing the state—it’s not the California our grandfathers fought for. And who’s running the show out there? Gavin Newsom, a career politician who thinks slick hair and smooth talk can cover up failure.
Rogan’s comment came during a conversation about how badly California has been run. One of his guests pointed out how people are leaving the state in droves. That’s not an exaggeration. Californians are packing up and moving to Texas, Arizona, and Florida, where they can actually afford to live and feel safe walking down the street.
Then Rogan dropped his idea. He said Trump should step in and “just take over California and fix it.” He even joked about Trump being 82 years old and still having the energy and know-how to solve problems like the water crisis. Yeah, it got laughs, but there’s a serious message underneath it all. Trump is a builder. He gets things done. And California is in desperate need of someone who can clean up the mess.
Joe Rogan: “What Donald Trump should do is when he leaves the office, run for governor of California. Just take over California and fix it. It would be hilarious.”pic.twitter.com/O7zhlhxO3Z
— Joe Rogan Podcast News (@joeroganhq) October 22, 2025
Now, some people are trying to brush this off as just a joke. But if you’ve served in uniform, you know that jokes often carry truth. Rogan’s not just poking fun—he’s pointing out that our so-called leaders in California have failed. And folks like Trump, who care about results more than headlines, are exactly the kind of leaders we need.
Of course, Newsom didn’t take it lightly. He fired back on social media, bragging about how great California supposedly is. He rattled off numbers—largest economy, number one in tech, farming, and all that—but none of that matters if regular people can’t afford to live there or feel safe in their own neighborhoods. You can’t measure success just by business rankings when the streets are filled with needles and crime.
Let’s not forget, Newsom wants to be president. He’s been trying to build his image, hoping people forget what he did during COVID—locking down the state, crushing small businesses, and ignoring his own rules. Rogan called him out for that too, saying, “You can’t ruin a city and then go on to ruin a state and say, ‘that was just practice.’” Exactly right.
What makes this interesting is the battle shaping up between two very different visions for America. On one side, you’ve got Newsom—elitist, groomed, and soft-spoken. On the other, you’ve got Trump—tough, experienced, and not afraid to get his hands dirty. Rogan’s idea might have been said with a grin, but it landed because people are hungry for real leadership.
As a veteran, I’ve seen what good leadership looks like. It’s not about empty promises or flashy speeches—it’s about taking responsibility, solving problems, and putting the mission first. That’s the kind of leadership Trump brings. Whether it’s the Oval Office or Sacramento, he’s not the type to back down from a challenge.
So, would it really be so crazy for Trump to run for governor of California? Not at all. Maybe it’s time someone with a backbone took the reins out there. Someone who’s not afraid to drain the swamp—coast to coast.
