Joe Rogan sparks major online debate after discussing viral theory about Trump and ICE

Joe Rogan has sparked a major online debate after sharing a viral theory regarding Donald Trump, ICE and the Epstein files.

Despite being promised a full, unfiltered version of the Epstein files last month, after Congress suggested that they would be released in their entirety by 19 December, there were a large number of names and photos, which were redacted upon the official release.

The likes of Bill Clinton, Michael Jackson and Mick Jagger were all spotted in the photos, but the mentions of US president Donald Trump were few and far between, despite his much-reported relationship with the disgraced financier and sex offender.

Although there was some backlash when the released files didn't quite live up to expectations, the general chaos in the US in recent months has gone some way towards distracting the public from this.

The released Epstein files had a lot of names and photos redacted (Davidoff Studios/Getty Images)

Already in 2026, we've seen the Venezuelan president 'kidnapped', Trump attempting to buy Greenland and the recent crackdown on 'illegal aliens' in Minneapolis, Minnesota, which has tragically led to the deaths of two US citizens, Renee Good and Alex Pretti, at the hands of federal immigration agents.

Following Good's death, Rogan compared ICE to Nazi Germany in a bold statement, and now he's made an even more eye-catching claim following the death of Pretti.

There are a lot of people on the internet who believe that these somewhat erratic actions are perhaps just a way of distracting from the Epstein files, and this viral theory was something which was discussed by Joe Rogan and his guest Eshan Ahmad.

"It’s gonna go on for a long time, I suspect," Rogan suggested on his show. "I mean, they said they released them, but what did they release?"

"With the Somalians and the ICE shooting, it feels like that’s completely drowned out, anything about it," Ahmad shared.

Border Patrol agents have caused a huge amount of controversy in Minneapolis (Kerem YUCEL / AFP via Getty Images)

ICE officials and Border Patrol agents have been in Minneapolis, as it is home to the largest immigrant Somali community in the US, with Somalia featuring on the controversial travel ban list that the president issued last summer.

Rogan then suggested that the situation might well be strategic, arguing that 'some of that’s on purpose', something which his guest also agreed with.

But his thoughts on the viral theory have certainly left some of his fans divided.

One humoured: "Jeez, Joe. Are you just now coming to that conclusion?"

Another wrote: "Rogan took quite a while to get to the conclusion most have already reached."

Meanwhile, one penned: "I’m sick of the distraction narrative. All this horrible s**t is happening at once because Trump is a sundowning drama queen with an ego the size of the Sun."

Another disagreed, writing: "It's kind of a low IQ take. This is who Trump is, Epstein files and all. Everything that's happened so far is completely predictable and foreseeable."

There's clearly plenty who agree that the Trump administration might well have everything figured out as a distraction but until we see 100 per cent of the Epstein files, something which may never happen, we will never know for sure if the crazy last few weeks have been a distraction technique or not.

LADbible has contacted the White House for comment.