Fox News Declines to Air Controversial Anti-ICE Advertisement
Fox News has refused to broadcast a television advertisement from the Jewish Democratic Council of America that prominently features a clip of podcaster Joe Rogan comparing federal immigration agents to the Gestapo. The conservative network's decision comes as the ad, titled "It's Gone Too Far," runs on rival channels CNN and MSNBC this week.
Advertisement Content and Context
The 30-second spot focuses on recent events in Minneapolis, highlighting the deaths of Renee Good and Alex Pretti last month, along with the detention of five-year-old Liam Conejo Ramos. The advertisement directly calls on President Donald Trump to end his administration's crackdown on illegal immigration.
The advertisement's narration declares: "Federal agents are executing and terrorizing American citizens. Detaining and teargassing children, creating chaos."
The commercial then cuts to a powerful clip from The Joe Rogan Experience podcast where Rogan asks: "Are we really going to be the Gestapo? Where's your papers? Is that what we've come to?"
The narrator continues: "ICE are out of control. When the government kills Americans and lies about the victims to cover up the crime, it's not law and order and it's not leadership. Those responsible must be fired. President Trump, stop the abuse, investigate the killings, it's gone too far."
Network Decisions and Political Implications
According to media reports, the Jewish Democratic Council of America had specifically intended to run the advertisement during Fox and Friends, the network's influential morning program known to be regularly watched by President Trump. JDCA CEO Halie Soifer confirmed to reporters that the organization had not received any explanation from Fox News regarding why the advertisement was rejected.
The Independent has reached out to both Fox News and Joe Rogan for comment on the situation, but responses have not yet been received.
Organizational Statement and Historical Parallels
In an official statement about the advertisement, Soifer explained: "Jewish Americans have long rejected Trump's extremism, but it's now reached a tipping point for our community and our country. Every American needs to turn their outrage into action, and with the midterms on the horizon, now is a critical moment to reject Trump's dangerous chaos."
She further elaborated on the advertisement's historical resonance: "Images of the execution of American citizens in the streets remind us of the darkest moments in our history. As Jewish Americans whose values are threatened by this White House, we feel obligated to sound the alarm and declare that 'It's gone too far,' which is precisely what we're doing with this ad."
Joe Rogan's Evolving Political Stance
The inclusion of Rogan's commentary represents a significant development in the podcaster's political journey. While Rogan was widely credited with playing a crucial role in the 2024 presidential election by inviting Trump onto his show and offering an endorsement, he has since become increasingly critical of the president's policies and behavior.
In recent months, Rogan has described Trump's crackdown on undocumented migrants as "f***ing nuts," mocked the president's texting style as resembling that of a "79-year-old kid," and questioned the wisdom of hosting UFC fights on the White House lawn, an event Trump is reportedly planning for this year.
When questioned about Rogan's criticisms during an interview with NBC News last week, President Trump appeared to dismiss the concerns, stating that he and Rogan had "a great conversation" just three days prior. The president added: "I think he's a great guy, and I think he likes me, too."
The advertisement controversy highlights the ongoing tensions surrounding immigration enforcement in the United States and the increasingly polarized media landscape where political messaging faces different standards across networks with distinct ideological orientations.
