Joe Rogan says he will ‘never’ return to Canada and ‘prefers Russia’

Joe Rogan has shocked his fans after making a huge announcement on his podcast just days after a major Trump backflip.

Podcaster Joe Rogan has stunned his fans after announcing he would “rather go to Russia” than ever return to Canada.

The 57-year-old confirmed in a recent episode of the Joe Rogan Experience that he would not be attending the UFC 315 event, due to be held in Montreal, Canada, on 11 May, because he does “not go there anymore”.

“I won’t be there,” Rogan said during his UFC London Fight Companion podcast on Saturday. “I don’t go to Canada anymore. I don’t. I’d rather go to Russia.”

While some claim this is simply because he does not enjoy travelling to overseas UFC events anymore and was also absent from UFC 297 which took place in Toronto in January 2024, others cite his support of Mr Trump as the deciding factor.

Rogan said he will never return to Canada. Picture: YouTube / @TheJoeRoganExperience

Mr Trump — who has incited a trade war after recently implementing tariffs on goods from Canada — previously said he would try to make Canada the 51st US state, which Rogan expressed disdain for in a recent episode of his podcast.

He said he would "rather go to Russia". Picture: YouTube / @TheJoeRoganExperience

Referring to Mr Trump’s desire to annex Canada, Rogan said the plan was “crazy”.

“That’s never going to happen,” he remarked on the show. “That’s so crazy, asked them to be the 51st state.”

On another recent episode of his podcast, Rogan was speaking with guest Michael Kosta, an American comedian, where he expressed frustration over the situation after watching a scuffle at a hockey game.

“Why are we upset at Canada? This is stupid. They booed us over tariffs,” he laughed.

As the conversation switched from hockey to politics, Rogan said that America has “got to become friends with Canada again”.

He spoke about how the relationship between the two countries had soured in the first months of Mr Trump’s second term as US President.

Rogan and Trump during the UFC 309 event in New York. Picture: Getty Images via AFP

Rogan pictured with Trump and his daughter Ivanka. Picture: Instagram / Ivanka Trump

“This is so ridiculous. I can’t believe that there’s like anti-American and anti-Canadian sentiment going on,” he said.

“It’s the dumbest f***ing feud.

“I just want America and Canada to get along. I think it’s ridiculous... and I don’t really think they should be our 51st state.”

His comments marked the first time the comedian has drastically strayed from Mr Trump since he began endorsing him in the lead up to the Presidential election.

“(Elon Musk) makes what I think is the most compelling case for Trump you’ll hear, and I agree with him every step of the way,” Rogan posted on X in November.

“For the record, yes, that’s an endorsement of Trump.”

Canada's new Prime Minister Mark Carney. Picture: Dave Chan / AFP

Canada’s new Prime Minister Mark Carney has been vocal over the decline in his country’s relationship with Mr Trump, stating that the US was an ally that Canada “can no longer trust” following the tariffs move.

During an Ottawa ceremony where he was sworn in as the country’s 24th leader, Mr Carney shared a big statement in response to Mr Trump’s annexation threats.

“We will never, ever, in any way shape or form, be part of the United States,” he said, adding that the suggestion was “crazy”.

“We are very fundamentally a different country.”

Originally published as Joe Rogan says he will ‘never’ return to Canada and ‘prefers Russia’