Joe Rogan stood firm on Trump assassination conspiracy theory before WHCD shooting
Gunfire broke out outside the White House Correspondents' Dinner on Saturday, prompting Secret Service agents to evacuate President Donald Trump and other attendees from the Washington Hilton ballroom.The suspect, identified as 31 year old California resident Cole Allen, engaged in a shootout with law enforcement while moving toward the venue in the most recent shooting incident connected to Trump's security detail.This came after an apparent assassination attempt on Trump during the 2024 presidential campaign, an incident that prompted podcast host and UFC analyst Joe Rogan, who had previously remarked about living "in the Matrix" following the assassination attempt on Trump, to tell his audience that "conspiracies are real" as he examined the incident more closely. This follows Dana White refusing to take cover in 'awesome' Donald Trump shooting incident.READ MORE: NBC interrupts NBA Playoffs to deliver news of massive NFL signingREAD MORE: Cleveland Browns coach flabbergasted by Shedeur Sanders question during NFL DraftRogan, who had repeatedly declined Trump's invitations to appear on his podcast during the former president's outreach efforts, voiced skepticism about the degree of incompetence shown by the Secret Service that led to Trump being wounded in the ear. He reinforced his original conspiracy theory, implying there might be additional details beyond what authorities have disclosed.Trump was shot during a rally on Saturday, July 13, 2024, in Butler, Pennsylvania. The shooter was identified as 20 year old Thomas Matthew Crooks. The FBI initiated an investigation into Crooks and the circumstances of that day, while the Secret Service announced it would carry out an internal review.The incident triggered widespread conspiracy theories, with Rogan maintaining on his "Joe Rogan Experience" podcast that the official explanation raises questions."The more you read about it, the more you're, like, 'What is going on?'" Rogan said to comedian Sam Morril, a guest on the show."They knew that there was a suspicious person 10 minutes before Trump went on stage; they still let him go on stage. They saw him on the ------- roof and they didn't engage. They saw him on the roof with a rifle. They wouldn't put Secret Service agents on the roof because they said there was a slope to the roof, and it would be dangerous."Morril then claimed: "It's more dangerous if the ex-president gets shot, which he did." Rogan responded by saying: "Dude, it's so crazy, and the fact that they had such poor security guarding him. Like, they did such a terrible job."Rogan quickly added a disclaimer, clarifying he wasn't promoting an alternative narrative, though he reminded listeners he doesn't automatically accept the government's version of events."I'm not accusing anybody of anything - just want to be real clear - but they have organized assassinations before," Rogan stated. "And when they organize assassinations, it looks just like that."And when they organize assassinations, one of the things they like to do is have some ------- loser kill the president and then they kill the ------- loser, and that's a wrap. This kid kind of, like, stops all the leads." Rogan proceeded to question why Crooks had not been stopped by authorities, even floating the possibility that he may have been recruited as an operative."If you're Secret Service, you see someone with a range finder walking 150 yards from where the president is, you tackle that ------- guy. You don't let that guy get on a ladder," Rogan said. "If I was some shadowy intelligence agency that did these, you know, undercover operations that are a little sketchy, I'd find kids like [the shooter]. That's your moneymaker. That's how you do it. If you've got a plan and you want to do something, you get some guy that's basically got nothing going on in life and then you know you mentor him, become friends with him."Maybe that guy's dad is an alcoholic who beats [him]. You know, maybe his mom is a ------- junkie. Who knows? Maybe his life is terrible, and you can provide mentorship and you can provide, you know, just camaraderie. Something [to make the potential shooter say], 'Wow, I wish I was a secret agent.' And then you tell this guy, you tell this kid, 'Hey, you could help America. We can work you into the program. You could be one of us.'"The conversation between Rogan and Morril then turned to another infamous presidential killing — the 1963 assassination of John F. Kennedy in Dallas. The Kennedy killing remains one of the most hotly contested conspiracy theories in American history, with Rogan making clear his doubts about the official version of events. "Listen, conspiracies are real," Rogan stated. "I mean, whatever the ---- happened in Dallas, Texas, in 1963, it's not what they tell you. That's one thing; 100 percent you're going to be sure. There is no objective journalism with no slant."In contrast to the July 2024 incident, the suspected gunman in Saturday's shooting was apprehended at the scene.Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche and fellow law enforcement officials stated they believe Trump was Allen's intended target. Allen made his way from California to Chicago, then to Washington, D.C. by rail before registering as a guest at the Washington Hilton hotel, the venue hosting the dinner."It does appear that he did in fact set out to target folks who work in the administration, likely including the president," Blance told NBC News.The president and first lady emerged from the incident without injury. A Secret Service agent sustained a gunshot wound to the chest but survived thanks to his bulletproof vest.When questioned about potentially being the target of yet another assassination attempt, Trump told Fox News, "It is what it is, you know? We had a great group of people there last night."Meanwhile, Melania faces accusations of 'saving herself' and 'leaving' Donald during the WHDC shooting.
