Elon Musk sat down with Joe Rogan to record a three-hour podcast Thursday, a day after the tech mogul took center stage at President Donald Trump’s first Cabinet meeting and touted the U.S. federal job cuts brought on by the the Department of Government Efficiency.
Musk initially shared news of the podcast appearance Friday around 3:30 a.m. ET, with a post on X saying, “Just did a long @JoeRogan episode.”
The SpaceX founder and Tesla CEO has previously appeared on Rogan’s podcast multiple times, including in November 2024, June 2024 and May 2020. His initial appearance on the program was in September 2018.
The more than three-hour-long episode was posted on Rogan’s YouTube channel on Friday afternoon, marking the first time he appeared on the show since beginning work as Trump’s adviser and overseer of DOGE.
Musk and Trump’s efforts to reduce the federal workforce and cut government spending, have drawn both praise and protest. Musk told Trump’s Cabinet members on Thursday that he has received “a lot of death threats.”
“They actually want to kill me,” Musk said on Rogan’s podcast.
Here is what to know about Rogan, Musk and the billionaire’s most recent appearance on the “Joe Rogan Experience” podcast.
Pictured (left) is Elon Musk speaking during the first cabinet meeting hosted by U.S. President Donald Trump, at the White House in Washington, DC, U.S., February 26, 2025. Pictured (right) is UFC host Joe Rogan during UFC 274 at Footprint Center in Phoenix, Arizona, USA, May 7, 2022.
Musk, Rogan discuss Grok AI, Nazi accusations, more
The new podcast episode opens with Musk and Rogan jokingly discussing how a lot of misinformation is being spread by Democrats and Republicans, and how the tech CEO’s Grok AI software is making things “weirder and weirder.”
Rogan also asks “unhinged” Grok “if all the gold” is in Fort Knox, the home to nearly 150 million troy ounces (or 5,000 tons) of gold, according to the U.S. Mint. The AI program responded, “What are you a (expletive) conspiracy theorist.”
Musk addressed being called a “Nazi” by people on social media. The claims came after Musk made a gesture last month that looked similar to the stiff-armed salutes done by the far-right political group.
“It was obviously meant in the most positive spirit possible,” he told Rogan. “… Now I can never point at things diagonally.”
Previously: Elon Musk’s ‘odd-looking’ salute sure looked like a ‘Sieg heil’ to me | Opinion
Musk went on to discuss how DOGE has given elected officials power over “the bureaucracy,” which in turn will “restore power to the people.” He also speaks about the alleged fraudulent government spending and DOGE’s efforts to decrease national debt.
“The interest on the national debt exceeds the defense department budget, which is truly outstanding,” he said.
Conversations were also had about Musk “rescuing” NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore, who are currently on board the International Space Station, and the recently released FBI documents concerning Jeffrey Epstein.
How to watch the podcast episode
The full podcast episode is available on the “Joe Rogan Experience” Spotify and YouTube pages.
Musk and Rogan previously tilted Democrat before endorsing Trump in 2024
Before endorsing Trump, Musk and Rogan acknowledged publicly that they favored Democratic candidates in previous elections. Musk confirmed his voting history during a two-hour interview with psychologist Jordan Peterson in July, with the South African native saying he supported Joe Biden during the 2020 presidential election
Other Democratic candidates Musk supported include former President Barack Obama in 2008 and 2012, and former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in 2016, according to the interview.
“We have got a choice of administrations and we have to pick one,” Musk told Peterson. “There are flaws on both sides.”
Rogan endorsed Democrat Bernie Sanders during the 2020 presidential election before endorsing Trump in 2024. He also supported Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who ran as a Democrat and Independent during the 2024 presidential election, before he dropped out and announced his loyalty to Trump.
While Rogan has been increasingly vocal about his support for Trump in recent months, even joining Musk and other tech billionaires at his inauguration, he has criticized the president as well. After Trump’s and Kamala Harris’ debate on ABC in September 2024, Rogan said the then-Democratic presidential nominee “nailed it,” while the 78-year-old former businessman was “funny like a comic” and underprepared.
Joe Rogan MC’s during the UFC 300 ceremonial weigh-in at MGM Grand Garden Arena on April 12, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Musk’s role in Trump administration
The White House revealed on Tuesday that DOGE’s acting administrator is Amy Gleason, a former official at the U.S. Digital Service.
Previously, many had thought Musk primarily ran DOGE after Trump named him the head of the newly-formed department in November.
But in a court filing last week, the White House argued that Musk is not in charge or even works for DOGE, instead he serves as a senior adviser to Trump.
Rallies against Trump and Musk, led by the 50501 Movement and other organizations, also occurred this month after the last round of widespread rallies and street marches.
“We witness, with growing alarm, how our constitutional rights are trampled upon, how the authority of the President is being usurped by those who seek to consolidate power for personal gain,” 50501 said in a statement on its website. “Meanwhile, President Trump systematically dismantles the very guardrails designed to ensure accountability across the branches of government.”
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Elon Musk on Joe Rogan podcast: What to know about the new episode
