Joe Rogan questions ICE activities after fatal shooting, compares tactics to ‘the Gestapo’

Podcaster Joe Rogan compared immigration enforcement tactics to “the Gestapo” in the latest episode of his podcast, aligning more with those who have expressed discontent over the fatal ICE shooting of Renee Good.

Mr. Rogan, one of the most popular podcasters in the world, endorsed President Trump in the 2024 election after their three-hour interview on “The Joe Rogan Experience.”

Now he’s openly breaking with the Trump administration’s immigration activities.

In an episode featuring Sen. Rand Paul, Kentucky Republican, Mr. Rogan said that while “most people” believe law enforcement should arrest criminals, many also believe U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement is “operating illegally.”

“You don’t want militarized people in the streets just roaming around, snatching up people — many of which turn out to be U.S. citizens that just don’t have their papers on them,” Mr. Rogan said on Tuesday’s episode.

Mr. Trump has deployed National Guard soldiers across the U.S. to oust illegal immigrants.

“Are we really gonna be the Gestapo, ‘Where’s your papers?’ Is that what we’ve come to?” Mr. Rogan said, adding that immigration issues “are more complicated than anyone wants to admit.”

The Trump administration’s immigration agenda reached a boiling point when an ICE officer fatally shot Good in her car after she appeared to accelerate toward the agent during an operation on Jan. 7.

“It’s very ugly to watch someone shoot a U.S. citizen, especially a woman, in the face,” Mr. Rogan said. “I’m not that guy. I don’t know what he thought. And again, this is a guy who had almost been run over, but it just looked horrific to me.”

Federal officials allege the Minnesota woman interfered with immigration officers’ duties by using her vehicle as a weapon, with Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem saying Good’s attempt to hit the agent amounted to “domestic terrorism.”

“I mean, when people are saying it’s justifiable because the car hit him, it seemed like she was kind of turning the car away,” Mr. Rogan said.

The Department of Homeland Security has defended the agent, and Ms. Noem called his actions self-defense. But protests against immigration operations have only grown since the shooting.