California Governor Gavin Newsom has fired back at Joe Rogan after the popular podcaster called him a 'cardboard cutout of a person.' Newsom posted his rebuttal to Rogan from his 'Governor Newsom Press Office' account on X, where he frequently adopts the posting style of President Donald Trump to mock him and other conservatives.
Newsom's Response
'JOE 'LITTLE GUY' ROGAN IS TOO CHICKEN TO HAVE ME ON HIS FAILING PODCAST BECAUSE HE KNOW I'D CRUSH HIM, SO HE TAKES CHEAP SHOTS FROM THE PEANUT GALLERY AS HE GETS RELEGATED TO IRRELEVANCY,' Newsom wrote. 'ALL TALK, NO ACTION. I'M READY WHEN YOU ARE, 'LITTLE GUY.' OR KEEP HIDING!!!! — Governor GCN.'
Rogan's Comments
During the Thursday episode of his show, Rogan said that no one believes Newsom is a 'real person,' calling him a 'stone cold, narrative-driven politician.' 'Whether you like Trump or not, whether you think he's corrupt, [he's] a human being ... with Newsom, you've got like this construct, this cardboard cutout of a person,' he said. In 2024, Spotify revealed to Bloomberg that Rogan's Joe Rogan Experience podcast had 14.5 million followers. The show currently has 20.9 million subscribers on YouTube.
Background of the Feud
Rogan has voiced dislike for Newsom for years. The comedian spent 25 years living in California before he moved out of the state to Austin, Texas in 2020. He has said he left California because the Covid-19 regulations under Newsom's government were too restrictive. 'I started looking out here in May [of 2020], and I went to a restaurant with my kids and they were like, we don't have to wear a mask? … we could eat at a restaurant?' Rogan recalled in a 2023 episode of his podcast. 'Then we went to the lake, and people are playing music and jumping in the water and [my children] were like, we want to live here! That was it. Two months later, I lived here,' he said.
Previous Exchanges
During an episode of Rogan's podcast in October, comedian Andrew Schulz asked when he planned to have Newsom on as a guest. After balking at the idea, Rogan called Newsom's combative tweeting style 'stupid' and a 'bad look.' He said he might have had the governor on if it wasn't for his attitude on social media. 'This is such a bad strategy. Like I probably would have had him on, but now I'm like 'no, what are you doing?'' Rogan said at the time. He then predicted that if Newsom did come on his show, he wouldn't need to 'cook him' because the governor would 'cook himself.' Newsom replied to a clip of the exchange by insinuating Rogan was afraid to face him. 'Bawk, bawk @joerogan,' Newsom wrote, along with an emoji of a chicken.
Proxy Show in 2025
The closest the two have come to publicly having a discussion occurred via a proxy show in 2025. Newsom made an appearance on the Shawn Ryan Show, whose eponymous host is friendly with Rogan. Ryan agreed to ask Newsom questions prepared by Rogan about California's Covid-19 policies, according to KOMO News.
