Joe Rogan warns the US is heading into “dark territory” after the murder of conservative commentator Charlie Kirk. He predicts the country may be on the brink of a civil war, pointing to increasing political violence and rhetoric under Trump’s leadership.
Joe Rogan, one of the world’s most influential podcasters, has issued a chilling warning about the state of the United States, claiming the country is heading into “dark territory” following the assassination of conservative commentator Charlie Kirk. On the latest episode of The Joe Rogan Experience, Rogan expressed his concerns about the growing polarization and dangerous rhetoric in American politics.
Kirk, 31, was fatally shot on September 10 in Utah while hosting a debate with college students. The accused, 22-year-old Tyler Robinson, has been charged with his murder and is set to stand trial next year. Following Kirk’s death, Rogan made a grim prediction, suggesting the country could be headed toward civil conflict.
Rogan’s Civil War Prediction: “Step Seven”
Rogan told his listeners that the public response to Kirk’s assassination marked a dangerous escalation in political tensions. He likened the current situation to “step seven on the way to a bona fide civil war” on a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 representing a full-blown civil conflict. The comment highlights how dire the situation feels to the podcaster, who has long been vocal about his concerns for the country’s future.
“Last time brother took up arms against brother in this country, we lost 700,000 lives—about 2.5% of the population at the time,” Rogan said, emphasizing the horrifying scale of loss the country faced during the Civil War. He added that if such a conflict were to occur today, the death toll could reach 8.5 million based on the current population.
The Dangerous Normalization of Political Violence
Rogan pointed out that some “regular people” seemed to celebrate Kirk’s murder, with some even cheering the event publicly in front of their families. He expressed deep concern over the normalization of political violence in the U.S., noting that some people seem to see acts of violence as a valid form of protest or political expression.
“As soon as you celebrate that, like man, you’re in dark territory,” Rogan warned. He referenced recent polling from Politico, which showed that 24% of Americans believe political violence is sometimes justified. This number increases among younger populations, with one in three people under 45 agreeing with the sentiment.
Trump’s Role in Inflaming Political Rhetoric
While Rogan did not outright criticize Trump, he acknowledged the former president’s role in fueling the current climate of division. Rogan discussed Trump’s infamous January 6 speech, where he urged supporters to “fight like hell,” and how the media had selectively edited parts of the speech to imply that Trump had called for storming the Capitol. Rogan dismissed the edit as “crazy” but suggested that Trump’s rhetoric was still problematic.
He argued that Trump’s call to “cheer on our brave senators” at the rally was a sarcastic attempt to intimidate Congress and push back against the certification of the 2024 election results. Although Rogan didn’t accuse Trump of lying about the election being stolen, he expressed skepticism, saying, “If you say that, you’ve got to have some really good evidence that you can give out.”
Rogan’s Past Criticisms of Trump
This isn’t the first time Rogan has expressed doubts about Trump’s actions. He has previously criticized the Trump administration’s militarized approach to mass deportations, particularly in reference to the removal of immigrant parents from their communities. Rogan’s politically independent stance has earned him the reputation of being a free speech advocate, but this episode marked one of his more pointed critiques of the former president’s influence on American politics.
Despite his criticisms, Rogan stopped short of fully condemning Trump in this episode. He conceded that Trump “has got a lot of things going on,” making a vague reference to the president’s ongoing scandals and involvement in the cryptocurrency world.
Conclusion
Joe Rogan’s latest warning about the potential for civil conflict in the U.S. underscores the growing concern about political violence and polarization. The assassination of Charlie Kirk has become a grim symbol of the deepening divisions in American society, and Rogan’s prediction that the country may be on the brink of civil war resonates with many who fear that the current political climate is unsustainable. As the nation grapples with increasing unrest, the call for accountability and restraint in political rhetoric becomes ever more urgent.
