Joe Rogan Says Going to President Trump’s UFC Freedom 250 ‘Doesn’t Mean You Endorse Foreign Policy’

Joe Rogan was just trying to enjoy the fight.

During the Wednesday, June 17, episode of his Joe Rogan Experience podcast, the 58-year-old comedian defended other comedians who were in attendance at the UFC Freedom 250 event held over the weekend at the White House.

Rogan posted photos and videos on Instagram of his time there in Washington, D.C., calling the experience “surreal.”

While discussing the event on his podcast, Rogan revealed, “I talked a bunch of people into going that didn’t want to. Like Shane Gillis was thinking about not going.”

“I’m like, ‘Bro, you got to go. It’s going to be epic. It’s going to be a once-ever thing. Not a once-in-a-lifetime [event] — once in anybody’s lifetime,'” he said. “It’s never happened before. It’s probably never going to happen again.”

Rogan alluded to how some celebrities in attendance took heat for being there because of its association with President Donald Trump, who also celebrated his 80th birthday that night. In particular, Nate Bargatze made headlines for attending, and his rep explained in a statement to HuffPost that the comedian “is not political” and went to simply “enjoy a sport he loves.”

“So many people are trying to make it a partisan thing,” Rogan said on his podcast. “They’re mad at people for being there. Like, ‘Oh, you support Trump.'”

Rogan noted that it was just a “fight at the White House,” which “doesn’t mean you endorse foreign policy.”

“Just please stop,” he told the critics, adding that it all comes down to “ego” — on both sides.

“The right celebrates this as a win for masculinity and patriotism and all these different things,” Rogan pointed out. “Like, okay, settle down. Everybody settle down. We should all be together.”

The podcaster advised those listening to “change your mind,” adding: “There’s no better way to change your whole perspective than a complete dissolving of your ego momentarily. At least for a while, just lock it all away.”

Rogan said that going to UFC Freedom 250 — a mixed martial arts event produced by the Ultimate Fighting Championship that was held on the South Lawn of the White House — was “one of the coolest things I’ve ever seen in my life.”