Trump’s 3-hour Joe Rogan interview: campaign attacks, tax ideas, and the ‘enemy within’

Former President Donald Trump’s recent interview with Joe Rogan, lasting nearly three hours, was one of his lengthiest media appearances as a candidate and covered a wide array of topics in Trump’s trademark, unscripted style. The conversation spanned everything from the 2024 polls to alternative tax ideas and even took detours into subjects like whales, UFOs, and historical anecdotes about Abraham Lincoln.
Some highlights from the interview include:

• Campaign Attacks: Trump criticized Vice President Kamala Harris, saying she “couldn’t put two sentences together” in interviews, while claiming his own oratory style, which he calls “the weave,” demands intelligence and skill to navigate multiple topics.
• Policy Ideas: Trump suggested eliminating income tax in favor of tariffs to fund the government, though he shifted away from further details on this idea, instead discussing figures like Elon Musk and UFC fighter Khabib Nurmagomedov. He reiterated his support for lowering corporate tax rates and imposing stiff tariffs on foreign vehicle imports.
• Election Claims and Domestic Issues: Trump once again falsely asserted that the 2020 election was “stolen” from him, describing an “enemy from within” as a significant threat to the U.S. He suggested that internal opposition was more dangerous than international adversaries, echoing previous comments on possibly using the military to address these perceived threats.
• Anecdotes and Personal History: Trump reminisced about his time on shows like The Apprentice and The View, and even shared an unverified story about Abraham Lincoln’s alleged fear of Confederate General Robert E. Lee.
  After the interview, Trump arrived at a Michigan rally, visibly fatigued, and repeated similar talking points, though with less energy. His arrival, delayed by three hours, saw him standing to WWE wrestler The Undertaker’s music before delivering his speech and claiming he led in swing states while criticizing Harris’s public appearances, including her campaign event in Texas featuring pop star Beyoncé.
  Meanwhile, Rogan extended an invitation to Kamala Harris to appear on his podcast, which she initially declined. However, Rogan hinted that she might still join. Such an appearance could provide a strategic opportunity for Harris to reach Rogan’s large, diverse audience, potentially influencing voters outside her typical base.