Joe Rogan, the influential podcast host and prominent supporter of Donald Trump, has criticized the president’s administration over the deportation of a professional makeup artist and hairdresser to a prison in El Salvador, calling it “horrific”.
Andry José Hernández Romero, who is gay, had sought asylum in the US, telling officials he faced persecution because of his sexual orientation and political views. But US immigration officers argued the crown tattoos on his wrists were proof he was part of Tren de Aragua, the Venezuelan gang, despite Hernández Romero telling them he was not. Last month, he was flown from Texas to a maximum-security prison in El Salvador, a facility that his lawyer said was “one of the worst places in the world”. His removal comes as the administration undertakes what Trump has pledged would be a mass deportation campaign.
In a 29 March episode of his popular podcast, Rogan, who endorsed Trump for president last year, said it was “horrific” that “people who aren’t criminals are getting lassoed up and deported”.
“This is kind of crazy that that could be possible,” Rogan said. “And that’s bad for the cause. The cause is let’s get the gang members out – everybody agrees – but let’s not let innocent gay hairdressers get lumped up with the gangs.”
The criticism was notable as prominent conservatives have generally been reluctant to speak out against the Trump administration.
The Joe Rogan Experience has for years been one of Spotify’s top podcasts. Rogan, a former mixed martial arts commentator and comedian, has amassed a large following and garnered much attention and criticism for his controversial guests including Kanye West, Elon Musk and Alex Jones.
Rogan himself has expressed support for Trump’s crackdown and in last week’s episode was highly critical of Joe Biden’s immigration policies, arguing an “open border” brought criminals into the US. In the same episode, he suggested pro-Palestinian protests at US universities had been paid for, and suggested that people were being paid to protest against Tesla.
But Rogan argued that conducting deportation operations recklessly would cost Trump supporters.
“If you want compassionate people to be on board with you, you can’t deport gay hairdressers seeking asylum – that’s fucking crazy – and then throw them in an El Salvador prison,” he said.
Source: www.theguardian.com