MAGA Faithful Ditch Rally After Trump Tells Them He’s Running Hours Late Because of Joe Rogan Interview

Fans of former President Donald Trump hit the bricks on Friday night after the main attraction informed them he was running very late thanks to his interview with Joe Rogan .

This week it was confirmed that Trump would sit down for an interview on The Joe Rogan Experience , which routinely tops the charts as the most popular podcast. Staffers from the campaign of Vice President Kamala Harris were reportedly in talks with Rogan’s people for her to appear as well, but it did not work out because the campaign claimed there were scheduling issues .

After Trump was already late for a Friday night rally in Traverse City, Michigan, the former president recorded a video that was played on the big screen at the rally.

“[Unintelligible] campaign stop, including doing Joe Rogan, and we want to just win,” Trump said. “I said, ‘Well, they understand in Traverse City. Otherwise, I’ll be very upset with myself.’ And I think you will. And it’s a Friday night, so we can sit around. We’ll do an extra-special job when we get there. I think we land in about two hours, and we’re stepping on the gas. But it’s all about winning. And we had to spend some extra time with some people and lots of people, actually.”

The former president then teased “a special performance.”

“We’re gonna have a good time tonight,” he added. “See you in a little while.”

Trump campaign spokesperson Steven Cheung boasted on X that his boss recorded a three-hour episode with Rogan, who records his shows in Austin, Texas.

“We’re coming now, Michigan!” he tweeted .

CBS Senior White House Correspondent Ed O’Keefe said many rally-goers were less than thrilled with the development.

“Trump’s decision to spend hours with @joerogan not going over well with Michiganders, some of whom are leaving as they learn the former president is still [m]ore than an hour away,” he tweeted before Trump’s message played. Afterward, he noted even more people decided to leave.

Megan Lebowitz of NBC News also shared video of rally-goers heading for the exits.

Rogan is known for his extremely long episodes, especially when the guests are especially notable.