Donald Trump/ Joe Rogan/ immigration/ Kamala Harris/ 2024 election/ Texas campaign/ Newslooks/ TEXAS/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Donald Trump heads to Texas for a news conference and a high-profile podcast with Joe Rogan. He plans to criticize Kamala Harris on immigration, marking another stop in his campaign focused on border issues. Meanwhile, Harris will be in Texas rallying for abortion rights with Beyoncé, setting up a day of contrasting campaign messages.
Trump in Texas: Podcast with Rogan and Immigration Criticism Quick Looks
- Event Details: Trump joins Joe Rogan for a podcast interview, with a news conference afterward.
- Campaign Theme: Trump continues to emphasize masculinity, with Rogan providing a high-profile platform.
- Immigration Rhetoric: Trump criticizes Harris and Biden on immigration, alleging a dangerous influx of migrants.
- Contrast with Harris: Harris will be in Houston with Beyoncé, focusing on reproductive rights.
Trump Visits Texas, Joins Joe Rogan, Criticizes Harris on Immigration
Deep Look
Former President Donald Trump is set to visit Texas for a high-profile interview with Joe Rogan, tapping into a broad audience as he emphasizes themes of masculinity and border security in his 2024 campaign. This event marks his first public appearance in Texas since receiving the Republican nomination, where he will also hold a news conference in Austin. His focus on Rogan’s podcast reflects his appeal to young male voters, adding to his campaign’s strategy of courting this demographic through media appearances that emphasize his assertive political style.
In Texas, Trump’s presence also serves as a counterpoint to his opponent, Vice President Kamala Harris, who is scheduled to rally in Houston with pop icon Beyoncé. While Harris plans to speak on abortion rights, Trump will use his Texas platform to intensify his criticisms of Harris and the Biden administration’s approach to immigration. Trump’s immigration rhetoric, which he escalated at a recent rally in Arizona, portrays the issue in stark terms. He accused the administration of allowing a “campaign of violence and terror” by migrant gangs against American citizens, labeling the United States as a “garbage can for the world.” This message builds on longstanding themes in his campaign, which frequently portray immigration as a security threat to U.S. towns and cities.
Trump’s relationship with Rogan has been complex. Rogan had previously avoided inviting Trump onto his show, stating that he didn’t want to endorse him. But this time, he agreed, despite Trump’s previous criticism of Rogan for endorsing Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who was running against Trump at the time. Since then, Kennedy has exited the race and endorsed Trump, which may have paved the way for this meeting.
Rogan’s popular podcast, “The Joe Rogan Experience,” is a top-rated show in the U.S. and is known for its long, unscripted interviews that often include unfiltered language and topics. Rogan’s previous remarks on women and controversial guests have sparked debate, but his influence remains significant, particularly among young men—a demographic Trump hopes to mobilize. Trump’s campaign has highlighted masculinity throughout his 2024 run, often deploying surrogates like Tucker Carlson, who used a recent rally to criticize Harris and other Democrats in highly gendered terms.
In addition to his podcast appearance, Trump plans to speak at an Austin news conference, focusing on immigration. He has made immigration a centerpiece of his 2024 campaign, citing it as the issue that first propelled him to the White House in 2016. At recent campaign events, Trump has doubled down on harsh immigration critiques, even claiming that U.S. towns have been “invaded” by immigrants and that violence is spreading as a result. Trump has frequently accused the administration of supporting policies that enable migrants to spread disease and has recycled claims that immigrants without legal status are voting illegally—a claim that remains unproven.
Meanwhile, Vice President Kamala Harris, who has targeted reproductive rights in her campaign, will be rallying in Houston alongside Beyoncé. The Texas rally is expected to draw significant attention as Harris highlights abortion rights, contrasting with Trump’s event in both message and style. Harris has argued that abortion rights and healthcare access are critical issues in the upcoming election, and her campaign has focused on reproductive freedom as a means of rallying support, especially among women voters. While Harris is unlikely to flip Texas blue, her presence underscores the Democrats’ focus on Texas as a battleground for their broader message on women’s rights.
Throughout his campaign, Trump has maintained that his approach to immigration is necessary for national security. However, his portrayal of immigrants as criminals and threats contrasts with studies indicating that immigrants, including those without legal status, are statistically less likely to commit violent crimes than U.S. citizens. Research from multiple sources, including the Cato Institute, consistently shows that immigrants generally commit fewer violent crimes than native-born Americans, but Trump has continued to point to select cases as evidence of an immigrant-driven crime wave.
With Harris focusing on reproductive rights and Trump leaning into his immigration agenda, the two events in Texas highlight the contrasting priorities of the 2024 candidates. Trump’s appearance with Rogan, alongside his Austin news conference, signals his campaign’s commitment to galvanizing young men through direct, often aggressive messaging on border issues. Harris, in Houston, will speak to voters on the need to protect abortion rights, with Beyoncé lending her influence to amplify this message.
Both candidates’ Texas appearances show the high stakes in a state that, while leaning Republican, holds influence in national political discourse. As Trump targets immigration and Harris advocates for reproductive freedom, each aims to activate voter bases that represent their respective platforms.
