The White House has issued a sharp rebuke to popular podcaster Joe Rogan, following his controversial remarks where he expressed understanding for protesters comparing US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents to Adolf Hitler's Gestapo.
Rogan's Controversial Podcast Comments
During a discussion on his widely-listened podcast about the fatal shooting of 37-year-old mother-of-three Renee Nicole Good in Minneapolis on January 7, Rogan delved into the public perception of ICE. The incident involved ICE agent Jonathan Ross, 43, who reportedly suffered internal bleeding after an encounter with Good. Rogan described the shooting as a 'terrible tragedy' that should not have happened.
Rogan stated he understood the anti-ICE protesters' perspective, questioning the sight of 'militarized people in the streets just roaming around, snatching up people'. He pointed out that many detained individuals are later found to be US citizens without documentation. His rhetorical question, 'Are we really gonna be the Gestapo? "Where's your papers?"', directly referenced the Nazi regime's secret police, responsible for suppressing opposition.
He further criticised agents for being 'masked up', arguing it deprived individuals of the right to identify their arresting officer, a privilege available during police arrests.
DHS and White House Push Back
On Wednesday, Tricia McLaughlin, Assistant Secretary for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), responded forcefully to Rogan's comments in an interview with Fox News. While not directly addressing the Gestapo analogy, she defended ICE's presence in Minneapolis.
McLaughlin shifted blame to local leadership, stating, 'If Tim Walz and Mayor [Jacob] Frey would let us in their jails, we wouldn't have to be there at all'. She asserted that the operations targeted '680 criminal illegal aliens', including individuals accused of murder, rape, and paedophilia, who she claimed no one would want in their communities.
She defended the need for a 'physical presence on the ground' due to a lack of cooperation from state and local law enforcement. McLaughlin also cited 'rampant crime', alleging the discovery of over $9 billion in fraudulent money linked to schemes like Medicaid fraud in Minnesota, which she believed was 'just the tip of the iceberg'.
Broader Immigration Debate and Political Endorsement
Rogan's comments emerged from a broader conversation with Republican Senator Rand Paul. While criticising ICE's street-level tactics, Rogan also acknowledged the conservative viewpoint. He referenced an 'illegal program moving people in here to get votes' and argued mass immigration had damaged American democracy, necessitating a corrective balance, though he admitted uncertainty on the solution.
This incident highlights the intense national debate over immigration enforcement methods. The 58-year-old podcaster, whose endorsement carries significant weight, previously supported Donald Trump in the last presidential election against Democratic nominee Kamala Harris.
