Comedian Shane Gillis ignited a firestorm of controversy during a recent appearance on The Joe Rogan Experience by suggesting, in a mix of jest and apparent seriousness, that far-right figure Nick Fuentes could become the next Catholic president of the United States.
A Shocking Suggestion on a Popular Podcast
The conversation took a bizarre turn on Thursday's episode as host Joe Rogan reflected on the small number of Catholics, like John F. Kennedy and Joe Biden, who have ascended to the presidency. Rogan then directly asked his guest, Shane Gillis, if he had any potential candidates in mind. Without hesitation, Gillis replied, "Fuentes," before bursting into laughter.
After Rogan confirmed he meant the controversial Nick Fuentes with a belly laugh, the host elaborated on his reasoning. Rogan claimed that a figure like Fuentes, known for his bigoted views, could not have gained such open popularity a decade or two ago. He pointed to a "whole group of people," particularly young men, who feel unrepresented, and described Fuentes as a "young guy with a very high verbal IQ" who engages in "shitposting" and "trolling," including saying "women shouldn’t be allowed to vote."
Praise for a Controversial Figure's 'Funny' Persona
Rogan referenced Fuentes' recent contentious interview on Piers Morgan Uncensored earlier this month, suggesting Fuentes had outperformed the seasoned host. Gillis agreed, focusing his commentary on Fuentes' comedic delivery. "The thing that people try to get Fuentes on is that he’s still funny as fuck," Gillis stated. Rogan interjected with a simple, "He’s funny," to which Gillis added, "So that’s where you’re in a lot of trouble."
This praise for Fuentes' sense of humor comes despite the figure's documented connections to neo-Nazis and his calls for a "total Aryan victory." The podcast discussion then honed in on a specific moment from the Piers Morgan interview where Morgan challenged Fuentes for joking about the Holocaust. Fuentes retorted, "Why, too soon?" Both Rogan and Gillis found the exchange darkly amusing, with Gillis calling Fuentes "wild" and Rogan imitating a defeated Piers Morgan saying, "Aw, fuck." Gillis concluded that Fuentes had landed a verbal "missile" on the host.
Reactions and the Blurred Line Between Comedy and Extremism
The segment, which begins around the 2:53:50 mark in the full podcast video, highlights the ongoing and complex debate about platforming extremist figures under the guise of entertainment or open dialogue. By framing Fuentes' rhetoric as edgy comedy, the conversation on the immensely popular Joe Rogan podcast risks normalizing ideologies rooted in white nationalism and anti-Semitism.
This incident underscores the potent and often dangerous mix of internet culture, political grievance, and humor that can amplify divisive figures. The reaction from the public and media critics will likely focus on the responsibilities of major platforms in addressing hate speech, even when it is delivered with a smirk.
