Trump's 'Manosphere' Supporters Turn on Him as Joe Rogan and Theo Von Lead the Revolt Over Iran War

Donald Trump's podcast allies are now among the most recognisable voices questioning his Iran war, with Joe Rogan saying supporters feel 'betrayed' and Theo Von describing Trump's Iran message as 'diabolical' and 'insane'.

The criticism is notable because both figures occupied prominent positions in Trump's media strategy during the 2024 campaign. Rogan formally endorsed Trump before the election, while Von gave him a high-profile platform on This Past Weekend.

The backlash comes as Trump's standing among young men has weakened. Reuters reported that approval among men aged 18 to 29 fell from 43% in early 2025 to 32% in 2026, with opposition to the Iran war, economic pressures, and frustration over the Epstein files contributing to the discontent.

Joe Rogan Says Trump Supporters Feel 'Betrayed'

Rogan, whose podcast interview with Trump became a major moment in the 2024 campaign, has emerged as one of the president's most prominent critics over Iran. On The Joe Rogan Experience in March, Rogan described the decision to strike Iran as 'insane' and questioned how the military campaign fitted with Trump's election message.

'This is why a lot of people feel betrayed,' Rogan said, arguing that Trump had campaigned against 'stupid, senseless wars'. He also questioned whether there was a clearly defined reason for the conflict.

The criticism is notable because Rogan formally endorsed Trump in November 2024. His podcast also gave Trump access to a predominantly young, male audience outside traditional political media.

Theo Von Turns His Frustration on Trump

Von has also moved from being part of Trump's wider media orbit to openly questioning the Iran campaign. Trump appeared on Von's podcast during the 2024 campaign, giving him another route into a younger audience. Von later appeared at a 2025 military event in Qatar alongside Trump.

But Von's reaction to the Iran war has been markedly different. On his This Past Weekend podcast in April, Von criticised Trump's Easter message about Iran, saying: 'To write that, it's diabolical. It's insane.'

He also questioned the widening conflict and the justification for military escalation. His comments added to a broader backlash among influential figures who had previously helped Trump connect with younger audiences.

The Manosphere Helped Trump Reach Young Men

The 'manosphere' is a loose term covering male-focused online communities and personalities spanning podcasts, comedy, livestreaming, combat sports, self-improvement content, and political influencers.

Trump's 2024 campaign recognised the value of this ecosystem. He appeared on The Joe Rogan Experience, This Past Weekend, Flagrant, and other shows, while also engaging with online figures such as Adin Ross. Young men subsequently became an important part of his electoral coalition.

CIRCLE at Tufts University found that 56% of young men aged 18 to 29 voted for Trump in 2024, compared with 42% for Kamala Harris. In 2020, the same demographic had backed Joe Biden by 56%.

The figures do not prove that podcasters alone caused the shift. Economic concerns, immigration, cultural issues, and dissatisfaction with Democrats also shaped young voters' choices.

Iran War Tests Trump's Young Male Coalition

The significance of the backlash goes beyond two podcasters changing their tone. Trump's appeal to many young men was partly built around his image as an outsider willing to challenge Washington's political establishment. His 2024 campaign also emphasised avoiding new wars.

The Iran conflict has put that message under pressure. A March Pew Research Center survey found that 59% of Americans believed the US had made the wrong decision by using military force against Iran, while 61% disapproved of Trump's handling of the conflict. Among Republicans aged 18 to 29, 49% approved of his handling, compared with 84% of Republicans aged 65 and over.

More recent Reuters reporting found Trump's approval among young men had continued to decline, while his overall approval stood at 35% in a Reuters/Ipsos poll published on 14 September. Democrats also held a seven-point advantage over Republicans in the generic congressional ballot.

That does not mean the entire manosphere has abandoned Trump, nor does it show that Rogan or Von speak for all young male voters. But it does reveal a potentially important fracture.

The influencers who once helped Trump make politics culturally relevant to millions of young men are now providing some of his most visible criticism. For a president approaching the 2026 midterm elections, the bigger risk may be losing the online ecosystem that once helped sell the Trump brand to the voters he needs most.