 "Joe Rogan looks on during UFC 316 at the Prudential Center on June 07, 2025 in Newark, New Jersey. AFP file")
The world-famous podcaster Joe Rogan has struck a critical note on US President Donald Trump’s recent anti-immigration move, comparing the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to “the Gestapo.”
In his latest episode featuring Sen. Rand Paul, Rogan expressed concerns about ICE actions in US states. He said that while “most people” believe law enforcement should arrest criminals, others also believe ICE is “operating illegally.”
“I can also see the point of view of the people that say, ‘Yeah, but you don’t want militarized people in the streets just roaming around snatching people up, many of which turn out to actually be U.S. citizens that just don’t have their papers on them,’” Rogan said. “Are we really going to be the Gestapo? ‘Where’s your papers?’ Is that what we’ve come to?”
Widespread social media footage of ICE agents using aggressive tactics during public arrests and immigration hearings has sparked national fear and outrage.
Public trust has further declined following reports of agents detaining US citizens and legal residents, alongside allegations of mistreatment within detention facilities. These incidents have led to a surge in protests across cities where ICE operations are active.
Rogan endorsed Trump during his 2024 election campaign after the Republican leader appeared on his podcast “The Joe Rogan Experience” for a three-hour-long interview.
The podcaster also joined others in criticising the killing of Minneapolis woman Renee Good Nicole at the hands of ICE agents. Rogan said it was “very ugly to watch someone shoot a U.S. citizen, especially a woman, in the face.”
He said, “It just looked horrific to me. mean, when people are saying it’s justifiable because the car hit him, it seemed like she was kind of turning the car away.”
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View AllMeanwhile, the United Nations demanded on Tuesday a swift and independent investigation after a federal immigration officer fatally shot Good last week.
The UN rights office voiced deep concern at the killing of 37-year-old Renee Nicole Good, who was shot dead in her car by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent in the Midwestern city last Wednesday.
“Under international human rights law, the intentional use of lethal force is only permissible as a measure of last resort against an individual representing an imminent threat to life,” UN rights office spokesman Jeremy Laurence told reporters in Geneva.
With inputs from agencies