Podcaster Joe Rogan finally cleared the air, explaining to his guest that his name appeared in the Department of Justice’s recent release of files related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein because he actively refused to meet the man, as reported by The Hill. The host of “The Joe Rogan Experience” told guest Cheryl Hines that Epstein was trying to set up a meeting with him, but Rogan shut it down immediately.
“Jeffrey Epstein was trying to meet with me,” Rogan explained. “And I was like, what? Like, no thanks. It’s not even a possibility that I would’ve ever went, especially after I Googled him.” The attempt to connect happened around 2017, and Rogan recounted how one of his guests tried to facilitate the introduction. After realizing who Epstein was, Rogan’s reaction was immediate and highly critical.
“I was like, ‘What the f— are you talking about?’” Rogan continued, noting the incident took place around 2017. “I was like, ‘B— are you high? Like, what the f— are you talking about?’” The source material shows that Epstein was definitely interested. After theoretical physicist Lawrence Krauss appeared on Rogan’s show in September 2017, Epstein emailed Krauss asking for an introduction. Krauss agreed, although he later noted he never heard back from Rogan.
This whole situation just reinforces Rogan’s broader skepticism about how the government is handling transparency regarding the files
Rogan made it clear that he would only have met with Epstein if he were “a guy who is sucking up to the rich and powerful.” He believes some people simply get drawn into that world. “Some people get intoxicated by being in a circle of rich and powerful people, even if they don’t have any ambitions of being one of those people,” Rogan said. “They just want to be around them.”
Rogan, who has endorsed President Trump for 2024 and hosted him on the podcast, has been outspoken in his criticism of the administration’s handling of the documentation releases. Rogan specifically slammed the DOJ’s redactions in the files, stating they look “f—ing terrible.” “It looks terrible,” he reiterated. “It looks terrible for Trump when he was saying that none of this was real, this is all a hoax. This is not a hoax.”
He questioned the administration’s earlier claims, suggesting that if they want to be charitable, maybe President Trump simply didn’t know. However, Rogan argues that if the government is redacting names of people who aren’t victims, then they are hiding something.
Rogan has been pressing for transparency for quite a while. In July 2025, he criticized FBI Director Kash Patel over inconsistencies regarding the files, particularly concerning the existence of videos from Epstein’s private island. Patel had hedged on the question the month before, replying, “Not of what you want.”
“The guy’s saying there’s no tapes, there’s no video,” Rogan said a month later, calling out the director. “That doesn’t make any sense. Everyone knows it doesn’t make any sense.” The host also accused President Trump of “gaslighting” the public over the administration’s handling of the files, stating there’s “a line in the sand.”
The issue of redactions has since been taken up by members of Congress, who reviewed the unredacted files after sponsoring the Epstein Files Transparency Act, led by Reps. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) and Ro Khanna (D-Calif.).
Published: Feb 13, 2026 11:00 am