Joe Rogan points to Democrats' past immigration stance, says 'Hillary was more MAGA than MAGA'

AUSTIN, TEXAS: A fresh debate over immigration politics has been stirred by podcaster Joe Rogan, who claimed that some prominent Democrats once sounded tougher on border enforcement than President Donald Trump.

Speaking on his podcast's latest episode that premiered on Wednesday, March 25, Rogan pointed specifically to Hillary Clinton, arguing that her earlier rhetoric aligns closely with positions now associated with Trump-era immigration policies.

Joe Rogan argues past Dems held harder line on illegal immigration

Laying out his argument, Rogan pointed to Clinton’s past campaign messaging and didn’t hold back in his comparison.

“She’s more MAGA than MAGA,” Rogan said about Hillary Clinton, referencing clips from her 2008 presidential run.

He expanded on that point by highlighting what he described as a strict and uncompromising tone in her stance on illegal immigration.

“Her take on the border was like hardcore. If you’ve been convicted of a crime, get out. If you stay here, you pay a stiff penalty, and you have to get in line, and you have to learn English! And everyone cheers. Like, that is a hardcore right-wing 2026 perspective,” he said.

Rogan’s guest, Bill Thompson, echoed the sentiment and broadened the discussion beyond Clinton.

“Obama did it too in 2012,” Thompson said, referring to Barack Obama.

Rogan agreed immediately, adding, “Yes, absolutely. And Obama deported more people than Trump did.”

Numbers back Joe Rogan's argument

Data from past administrations adds context to Rogan’s argument. During Obama’s presidency, deportations reached historically high levels.

According to TRAC Reports, over eight years, the administration recorded more than 3.1 million removals, with a peak year in 2012 seeing over 400,000 deportations.

By contrast, Trump’s first term saw lower overall totals, with the highest annual figure reaching 269,000 in 2019 and fewer than one million deportations across four years.

At the same time, supporters of Trump have argued that legal and judicial constraints have slowed enforcement during his current term, even as his administration has emphasized stricter border control policies.

According to former DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, “In President Trump’s first year back in office, nearly 3 million illegal aliens have left the US because of the Trump administration’s crackdown on illegal immigration, including an estimated 2.2 million self-deportations and more than 675,000 deportations.”

Rogan’s remarks tap into a larger narrative shift in American politics, one where past Democratic positions on immigration are increasingly being revisited and compared with current Republican policies.