Joe Rogan defends DeSantis from Trump name-calling, says success in Florida is ‘unparalleled’

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Joe Rogan knocks Trump nickname for DeSantis, talks potential 2024 battle

The podcast host said that DeSantis’ success in Florida is ‘unparalleled.’

Podcast host Joe Rogan defended Florida Governor Ron DeSantis from nicknames and criticism doled out by former President Donald Trump, highlighting the former's "unparalleled" success in the Sunshine State.

During a Wednesday installment of "The Joe Rogan Experience," Rogan spoke with comedian Bridget Phetasy about GOP frontrunners for the 2024 presidential election.

At one point, Phetasy asked Rogan whether he believed DeSantis would compete for the primary spot against Trump.

"What the f--- do I know?" Rogan said. "I don't know anything. It seems like Trump thinks he is. Trump's been Truth Social-ing about it."

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Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis speaks to police officers about protecting law and order at Prive catering hall on February 20, 2023 in the Staten Island borough of New York City. DeSantis, a Republican, is expected by many to announce his candidacy for president in the coming weeks or months.   ((Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images))

He then referenced a recent post from Trump where the former president said, "All of the Fake News is reporting that I spend large amounts of my time coming up with a good 'nickname' for Ron DeSanctimonious, who is obviously going to give the presidential 'thing' a shot. They are all 100% wrong; I don't even think about it—A very unimportant subject to me!!!"

Referencing the post, Phetasy said that Trump was "losing his touch" with the nicknames.

"Well, there's not a good one that you can come up with for Ron," Rogan replied. "Because Ron, he's too good with that base and his success in Florida is pretty unparalleled."

Rogan has previously spoken about DeSantis.

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Former President Donald Trump speaks at a campaign event at the South Carolina Statehouse, Jan. 28, 2023, in Columbia, S.C. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon, File)

Last June, Rogan said DeSantis would "work as a good president" and called his leadership in Florida "admirable."

Trump, who famously dubbed political rivals with unflattering nicknames such as "Little Marco" and "Lying Ted," has started to criticize DeSantis publicly, who is expected by many to run for president in 2024. Trump has already announced his candidacy.

New York Times reporters Michael Bender and Maggie Haberman reported Trump had used insults in addition to the "Ron DeSanctimonious" moniker he previously unveiled.

"[Trump] has insulted Mr. DeSantis in casual conversations, describing him as 'Meatball Ron,' an apparent dig at his appearance, or 'Shutdown Ron,' a reference to restrictions the governor put in place at the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic," Bender and Haberman reported.

Joe Rogan looks on during the UFC 273 event at VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena on April 09, 2022 in Jacksonville, Florida.  ((Photo by James Gilbert/Getty Images))

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DeSantis is widely expected to enter the race at some point.

Trump leads a field of actual and potential Republican presidential contenders in a new national nonprobability-based poll looking at the growing 2024 GOP nomination field.

Trump stands at 43% among registered Republicans in a Reuters/Ipsos national public opinion survey released on Tuesday, with DeSantis in second place with 31% support.

While the former president was once the overall frontrunner in the early 2024 GOP nomination polls, DeSantis has eclipsed him in some surveys over the past few months. Nearly every poll indicates Trump and DeSantis as the favorites, with everyone else in the single digits.

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Fox News' Brian Flood and Paul Steinhauser contributed to this report.