Podcast host Joe Rogan used a recent episode of The Joe Rogan Experience to sharply criticize U.S. immigration enforcement methods, focusing on the fatal shooting of Minnesota resident Renee Nicole Good. During the discussion, Joe Rogan describes the fatal ICE shooting of Renee Good as a “terrible tragedy.”, expressing visible discomfort with how the incident unfolded.
Speaking with Republican Senator Rand Paul in the Jan. 13 episode, Rogan said the video and details surrounding the shooting were deeply disturbing. He emphasized how unsettling it was to see a U.S. citizen killed during a law enforcement operation, especially under circumstances that appeared chaotic and unclear. While acknowledging that the ICE agent involved had reportedly felt threatened, Rogan said the situation still “looked horrific” and left him troubled.
Renee Nicole Good, a 37-year-old mother of three, was shot and killed inside her vehicle on Jan. 7 during an ICE operation in a residential neighborhood near downtown Minneapolis. According to federal officials, the agent involved acted in self-defense after Good allegedly attempted to strike officers with her car. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem later described the incident as an act of self-defense and went further by labeling the alleged action as “domestic terrorism.”
Rogan, however, questioned that narrative. On the podcast, he argued that footage and descriptions suggested Good may have been trying to turn her vehicle away rather than toward the agent. He pushed back against claims that the shooting was clearly justified, saying the explanation did not align with what he believed he saw.
The conversation then widened to Rogan’s broader concerns about immigration enforcement. He warned that heavily armed agents conducting operations in public spaces pose serious risks. Rogan criticized what he sees as a growing militarization of immigration policy, arguing that such tactics can lead to tragic mistakes, including the detention or harm of U.S. citizens who may lack documentation at the moment they are stopped.
“You don’t want armed, militarized people roaming neighborhoods and grabbing people off the street,” Rogan said, adding that the approach felt dangerously close to authoritarian practices. He questioned whether the country was moving toward a system where people are routinely demanded to prove their identity on the spot.
Rogan’s Evolving Criticism of Donald Trump
Rogan’s comments also fit into a broader pattern of increasingly vocal criticism of former President Donald Trump. Although Rogan interviewed Trump and vice-presidential candidate JD Vance in the final stretch of the 2024 campaign—and even endorsed Trump shortly before Election Day—his tone has shifted in recent months.
In late 2025, Rogan publicly criticized Trump over harsh remarks directed at actor and filmmaker Rob Reiner following Reiner’s death alongside his wife. Rogan said the comments lacked empathy and crossed a line, calling them unsettling rather than humorous.
Earlier still, Rogan took issue with the Trump administration’s refusal to release additional information related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. He described the lack of transparency as unacceptable, saying it represented a breaking point for many Americans who had long demanded answers.
Taken together, Rogan’s remarks on the ICE shooting and his recent critiques of Trump reflect a more skeptical stance toward government authority and enforcement power—particularly when those actions result in loss of life or erode public trust.
