During the engaging sit-down, the former president delved into various topics, including what he considers the “biggest mistake” of his White House tenure, his interactions with North Korea’s leader, and intriguing thoughts on extraterrestrial life.

Two years prior, Rogan had labeled Trump as “an existential threat to democracy” and declined his appearance on the show. However, the atmosphere was notably amicable during this interview, with both discussing mutual interests like the Ultimate Fighting Championship and shared acquaintances such as Elon Musk.

Trump’s campaign aims to leverage this interview to strengthen his appeal among male voters, a demographic that forms the backbone of Rogan’s extensive audience, boasting 14.5 million Spotify followers and 17.5 million YouTube subscribers.

In a strategic move, Trump traveled to Austin, Texas to meet Rogan, which led to a slight delay in his schedule as he arrived nearly three hours late to a pivotal rally in Traverse City, Michigan—a key swing state where both he and his Democratic rival, Kamala Harris, are actively campaigning.

Reflecting on Leadership

When asked about his tenure, Trump acknowledged that the “biggest mistake” during his 2017-2021 presidency was “I picked a few people I shouldn’t have picked.” He specifically mentioned issues with neoconservatives and individuals he felt were disloyal or ineffective.

“Neocons or bad people or disloyal people,” Trump told Rogan.

He referenced his former White House chief-of-staff John Kelly, describing him as “a bully but a weak person,” and expressed his views on former National Security Adviser John Bolton as “an idiot” yet occasionally useful.

“He was good in a certain way,” said Trump. “He’s a nutjob. And every time I had to deal with a country when they saw this whack job standing behind me they said: ‘Oh man, Trump’s going to go to war with us.’ He was with Bush when they went stupidly into the Middle East.”

Building International Relationships

Trump highlighted his strong relationship with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, emphasizing their ability to overcome initial tensions. He shared an anecdote about encouraging Kim to focus on peaceful pursuits rather than military build-up.

“I said: ‘Do you ever do anything else? Why don’t you go take it easy? Go to the beach, relax. Let’s build some condos on your shore.’”

Addressing global conflicts, Trump asserted that Russia would not have invaded Ukraine under his leadership, citing his open lines of communication with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

“I said, ‘Vladimir, you’re not going in,’” Trump told Rogan.

He attributed Putin’s actions to a lack of respect for current President Biden, reinforcing his stance on strong international diplomacy.

Addressing Election Integrity

Trump reaffirmed his belief in the integrity of his 2020 election campaign, stating, “I lost by, like, I didn’t lose,” and mentioned plans to present evidence of what he described as a “crooked” election.

“We’ll do it another time. I would bring in papers that you would not believe, so many different papers. That election was so crooked, it was the most crooked.”

He addressed allegations of voter fraud, particularly in Wisconsin, and criticized the Democratic use of COVID-19 measures, emphasizing his commitment to fair elections.

Supporting Allies and Critiquing Opponents

Trump took the opportunity to commend his allies and express concerns about his political opponents. He described Vice-President Kamala Harris as a “very low IQ person” and criticized California Governor Gavin Newsom as “one of the worst governors in the world.”

On a positive note, he praised Elon Musk as “the greatest guy” and expressed his support for bringing Robert F. Kennedy Jr. into a potential Trump administration, highlighting his commitment to diverse viewpoints.

Exploring the Unknown

In a fascinating segment, Trump shared his thoughts on the possibility of extraterrestrial life, stating, “There’s no reason not to think that Mars and all these planets don’t have life.” He reflected on conversations with pilots who have witnessed unexplained phenomena in the sky.

“Maybe it’s life that we don’t know about,” said Trump.

Maintaining Health and Vitality

Addressing concerns about his health, Trump confidently shared that his physicals have been exceptional. He recounted a particularly impressive treadmill test at Walter Reed Hospital, where doctors were amazed by his stamina.

“I was never one that could, like, run on a treadmill. When passing a physical, they asked me to run on a treadmill and then they make it steeper and steeper and steeper and the doctors said, it was at Walter Reed [hospital], they said: ‘It’s unbelievable!’ I’m telling you, I felt I could have gone all day.”

Preferring to stay active through golf, Trump emphasized his commitment to maintaining excellent health to serve the nation effectively.