A public feud between California Gov. Gavin Newsom and podcast host Joe Rogan escalated this week, after an older clip resurfaced of Rogan blasting the Democrat ahead of the 2024 election.
The latest round began when Newsom’s press office account posted an all-caps message on X aimed directly at Rogan, challenging him to a face-to-face exchange.
“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,” the account posted.
“All talk, no action. I’m ready when you are, ‘little guy.’ Or keep hiding,” Newsom’s office added with his initials to sign off.
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. ALL TALK, NO ACTION. I'M READY WHEN YOU ARE, "LITTLE GUY." OR KEEP HIDING!!!! — Governor GCN https://t.co/5JtafE9zE6
— Governor Newsom Press Office (@GovPressOffice) May 1, 2026
The message echoed the tone and formatting often used by President Donald Trump, including the use of capital letters and a closing signature.
The post came in response to a 2023 clip in which Rogan tore into Newsom during a discussion about potential presidential candidates.
“Nobody wants President Newsom either,” Rogan said in the clip. “Nobody believes in that guy. That guy’s a f—ing con man.”
He went on to criticize the governor’s handling of COVID-era policies and his public behavior during that period.
“Everything he did in California… it’s just, nobody believes in the guy,” Rogan said, describing Newsom as “a stone-cold, narrative-driven politician.”
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Rogan contrasted that perception with how he viewed Trump at the time.
“Whether you like Trump or not, whether you think he’s corrupt or not, that’s a human being. You know what that guy is,” he said. “With Newsom, you’ve got like this construct, this cardboard cutout of a person.”
The resurfaced comments gained traction online, prompting Newsom’s team to respond publicly rather than ignore the criticism.
Rogan has continued to reference Newsom in more recent episodes, including a segment earlier this year in which he mocked a post from the governor’s press office mocking independent Nick Shirley’s investigation into Minnesota daycare fraud.
“Did you see what the governor posted, what Newsom’s press office posted?” Rogan asked during an episode of his show.
Joe Rogan: “The stuff that [Nick Shirley] just found in California. It’s bonkers.”
Mark Normand: “If you see that guy in your town. You’re f*cked.”
Joe Rogan: “Did you see what the governor posted? What Newsom’s press office posted? They posted a photo of Nick Shirley… like a… pic.twitter.com/XXcKTfsTDI
— RedWave Press (@RedWavePress) March 22, 2026
“They posted a photo of Nick Shirley, like a fake Nick Shirley, like a meme — like Nick Shirley peeking into windows.”
He called the move “stupid” and questioned the strategy behind engaging in online trolling.
“I probably would have had him on,” Rogan said, referring to a potential interview with Newsom. “But now I’m like, what are you doing?”
He added that the governor’s approach would likely backfire and he would “cook himself.”
Newsom has previously tried to draw Rogan into a direct exchange. In October, he posted from his personal account accusing the host of avoiding a debate.
“You can’t ruin a city and then go on to ruin a state and say, ‘Guys, that was just practice. Once I get in as president, I’m gonna fix it all,” he said about the California governor.
Rogan has resisted the idea, arguing that the tone of the governor’s outreach makes a productive conversation unlikely.
The back-and-forth comes as Rogan continues to weigh in on political developments beyond California, including a recent Justice Department indictment of former FBI Director James Comey.
The case stems from a viral image Comey posted last year showing seashells arranged in the sand to spell out “86 47,” a phrase some interpreted as a threat against Trump.
Comey said he came across the display while walking on a beach and later removed the post after backlash.
Federal prosecutors charged him with two counts, including threatening the president, a move that drew immediate reaction from Rogan.
“It’s nuts,” Rogan said on his podcast, reacting to the charges. “It’s nuts.”
He questioned why the Justice Department pursued the case while other high-profile investigations have not led to arrests.
“The whole Epstein thing is so crazy,” Rogan said. “No one has gone to jail for that… meanwhile, Comey is getting arrested for a photo of seashells.”
Rogan argued the phrase in question is commonly used in a different context.
“If you get fired… he got 86ed. It doesn’t mean you got killed,” he said, pushing back on the interpretation behind the charges.
He also warned that the case could create unintended consequences. “This sets a crazy precedent,” Rogan said.
Comey responded publicly after the indictment, rejecting the accusations and framing the case as politically motivated.
“I’m still innocent, I’m still not afraid, and I still believe in the independent federal judiciary, so let’s go,” Comey said. “But it’s really important that all of us remember that this is not who we are as a country.”
The dispute adds to a long-running rift between Comey and Trump dating back to the president’s first term, when he dismissed the FBI director in 2017.
Rogan suggested the case reflects that history. “They’re just looking for any reason,” he remarked, arguing that stronger evidence would exist if the allegations against Comey were more substantial.
“Like, if the guy really was dirty you should have something on him other than this seashell picture,” he added.
A guest on the show framed the charges as retaliation tied to earlier investigations into Trump, a view Rogan appeared to entertain during the discussion.
At the same time, Rogan raised concerns about broader law enforcement tactics, pointing to recent immigration enforcement operations involving masked agents.
“This is my thing… it sets a crazy precedent,” he pointed out, arguing that such approaches could lead to unintended outcomes regardless of the policy goals behind them.
He acknowledged support for removing undocumented criminals but warned about how enforcement is carried out.
“You’re setting a precedent for militarized people… walking around with weapons of war… with no ID and masks on,” Rogan said. “That’s all I’m saying.”