Podcast host Joe Rogan delivered a significant public endorsement to Canadian Conservative Party leader Pierre Poilievre, stating he would vote for him if he were a Canadian citizen. The endorsement, made during an extended conversation on Rogan's widely popular podcast, reached an audience of more than 20 million subscribers and has been described by some observers as the largest public endorsement in Canadian political history. The wide-ranging interview, which took place recently, covered a broad spectrum of policy issues critical to Canada, including assisted suicide, escalating housing costs, immigration policies, energy production, trade tariffs, the justice system, and the national debt, alongside a discussion of the broader Canadian political landscape.
During the interview, Rogan directly told Poilievre, "I think your message resonates with me. If I was a Canadian I’d vote for you, one-hundred percent." Following the sit-down, Poilievre described the interview as productive, noting that he utilized the platform to articulate his party's stance against U.S. tariffs imposed on Canadian goods. "I think we had a great conversation," Poilievre stated, emphasizing the opportunity to engage a large international audience on key Canadian issues. As a gesture of goodwill, Poilievre presented Rogan with a custom maple leaf kettlebell during his visit.
A significant portion of their discussion centered on comments made by President Donald Trump regarding the absorption of Canada as the 51st American state. This topic has generated considerable controversy north of the border, prompting Poilievre to push back firmly on the idea, asserting that Canadians rejected it outright. Rogan directly addressed the prevailing narrative in America that President Trump’s annexation comments had derailed what had been a promising electoral run for the Conservatives in Canada. Rogan posed the question, "There’s a narrative in America, and the narrative is that you were about to win, and your party was about to win, but then President Trump came along and said he was going to turn Canada into the 51st state, and everybody went crazy. Is that accurate? Did that really have that much of an effect up there? Like, did people take him seriously?"
Poilievre acknowledged the impact of President Donald Trump's remarks, though he refrained from placing full blame on President Trump for his party's election loss to Prime Minister Mark Carney. He clarified that Canadians were not necessarily "panicked" but were genuinely offended by the suggestion. "I wouldn’t say they went crazy. I mean, it was… Well, they got very upset. They should be upset, though. It is a crazy thing to say. Canada’s not for sale. We’re never going to be the 51st state. We love Americans as neighbors and friends, but we want to be uniquely, and we want to be sovereign as Canadians," Poilievre responded.
He further elaborated on the deep-seated Canadian identity, stating, "It’s our country. It’s where we grow up. You’re a patriot. As an American, I’m a patriot as a Canadian. It’s where my grandfather arrived. It’s where our collective ancestors put on military uniforms and sailed to fight wars. It’s where our grandkids are going to live." Poilievre conveyed a strong sense of national pride, adding, "We’re very proudly Canadian, so we’re never going to be the 51st state, and I just wish he’d knock that shit off so that we can get back to talking about the things that we can do as two separate countries that are actually friends."
Poilievre explained that Canadians initially dismissed President Donald Trump's annexation remarks as a long-standing joke, akin to playful banter about taking over Vermont or Detroit becoming part of Canada. However, he noted that the tone shifted as President Trump continued to make the comments. "But then he kept saying it, and people got upset about it, and I think understandably so. I mean, it’s a crazy thing to say," Poilievre recounted, indicating that what began as a perceived jest quickly evolved into genuine indignation among the Canadian populace. He also highlighted his broader political philosophy during the discussion, stating, "If the government that's in power now steals all my ideas and does the things I want to do, then I've won. That's why I came here. I didn't just do it so that I could have my name on the door."
The recent Canadian election saw Prime Minister Mark Carney's victory over Poilievre, a comeback described as one of the most dramatic in Canadian electoral history, with the Liberal prime minister achieving a historic reversal of fortunes in polling numbers. In the aftermath, Poilievre has been actively traveling across the United States, engaging with American lawmakers and business leaders to advocate for tariff-free trade between the two neighboring countries. His U.S. outreach efforts also include a scheduled address to the Foreign Policy Association in New York City, underscoring his commitment to strengthening economic ties and addressing cross-border issues.
