In a recent episode of the massively popular The Joe Rogan Experience podcast, comedian Shane Gillis made a provocative suggestion about the future of American politics. During a conversation about the scarcity of Catholic presidents, Gillis named far-right white nationalist Nick Fuentes as a potential future leader, highlighting his sense of humour as a key factor.
A Controversial Suggestion on a Major Platform
The discussion unfolded as host Joe Rogan reflected on the historical lack of Catholic presidents, with figures like John F. Kennedy and Joe Biden being notable exceptions. Rogan directly asked his guest, Shane Gillis, if he had anyone in mind who could fit the bill in the coming years. Without hesitation, Gillis replied, "Fuentes," and burst into laughter.
"Nick Fuentes?" Rogan asked, responding with a belly laugh of his own. The host then expanded on the idea, suggesting that such a figure would have been unelectable just one or two decades ago. "He could probably win in a few years," Rogan stated, pointing to a rapidly changing political and media environment.
Rogan's Analysis of Fuentes' Appeal
Joe Rogan provided his analysis of why Nick Fuentes resonates with a specific demographic. "Listen, he couldn’t have existed before, right? 20 years ago, couldn't have existed. Now super popular. What's 20 years from now look like? Maybe someone like that could win," Rogan mused.
He described a sense of alienation among certain groups, particularly young men, who feel politically unrepresented. Rogan characterised Fuentes as a "young guy with a very high verbal IQ" who engages heavily in online "shitposting" and trolling. He also referenced Fuentes' extreme views, such as opposing women's suffrage, calling them "wild shit."
The conversation notably turned to Fuentes' recent appearance on Piers Morgan Uncensored. Rogan framed the interview as a mismatch, likening it to "an expert sparring with someone who thought they were an expert." He argued that Fuentes effectively "outboxed" the seasoned host.
Humor as a Shield for Extreme Views
The central point of agreement between Rogan and Gillis was the potency of Nick Fuentes' comedic delivery. Gillis praised him, saying, "Funny as ****," and later added, "The thing that people try to get Fuentes on is that he’s still funny as ****." Rogan immediately interjected with agreement, simply stating, "He’s funny."
Gillis then pointed to this humour as a dangerous asset, noting, "So that’s where you’re in a lot of trouble," in reference to the way it can deflect criticism of Fuentes' extremist ideologies.
Both men laughed recounting the moment in the Piers Morgan interview where Morgan criticised Fuentes for joking about the Holocaust. Fuentes retorted, "Why, too soon?" Gillis laughed and called him "wild," while Rogan and Gillis both painted the moment as a decisive hit against Morgan. "He got hit with a missile on that one," Gillis concluded.
The Implications of Mainstream Platforming
This exchange on one of the world's most-listened-to podcasts highlights the ongoing normalisation of far-right figures in certain media ecosystems. By focusing on Fuentes' performance and verbal skill, the discussion largely sidestepped a substantive critique of his well-documented white nationalist and antisemitic beliefs. The episode underscores how political commentary is increasingly filtered through the lens of entertainment and viral moments, where rhetorical victory can overshadow ideological content.
