Joe Rogan Promotes January 6 False Flag Conspiracy Theory, Claims FBI Orchestrated Insurrection to Frame Trump

Joe Rogan claimed on his podcast in July 2023 that January 6 was a false flag operation orchestrated by federal intelligence agencies, stating “That’s a fact” regarding intelligence agency involvement in provoking people into the Capitol Building. Rogan repeatedly promoted the baseless conspiracy theory that federal law enforcement used “agent provocateurs” such as Ray Epps to manipulate the crowd to attack the Capitol.

The False Flag Claim

Rogan asserted that Ray Epps “clearly instigated” the attack and suggested intelligence agencies wanted to portray Trump as “responsible for this insurrection attempt.” This conspiracy theory attempts to deflect responsibility for the January 6 attack from Trump and his supporters to federal agencies—a narrative consistent with authoritarian propaganda techniques that blame “deep state” actors for regime challenges.

The claims represent systematic amplification of false narratives designed to undermine legitimate investigation of the January 6 insurrection and absolve those actually responsible.

FBI and Congressional Findings Contradict Claims

The FBI explicitly stated that “Ray Epps has never been an FBI source or an FBI employee.” House Select Committee on January 6 staffers found no evidence that Epps was involved in planning or engineering the riots.

Ray Epps himself filed a defamation lawsuit against Fox News for making him a “scapegoat” for the January 6 attack through similar false claims. Epps’ attorney called Rogan’s claims an “absurdity.”

The conspiracy theory ignores extensive documented evidence:

• Trump’s “Stop the Steal” rally speech directly preceded the attack
• Proud Boys and Oath Keepers coordinated tactical operations
• Thousands of Trump supporters participated voluntarily
• Over 1,000 arrests and hundreds of convictions of actual participants
• No evidence of FBI instigation despite exhaustive congressional investigation

Pattern: Deflecting Coup Responsibility

Rogan’s promotion of the false flag narrative serves specific political objectives:

Absolves Trump: If the FBI orchestrated January 6, Trump bears no responsibility for inciting the insurrection.

Undermines Investigation: Delegitimizes the House Select Committee’s findings and criminal prosecutions of participants.

“Deep State” Narrative: Reinforces authoritarian framing where accountability investigations are portrayed as persecution by shadowy government forces.

Victim Reversal: Transforms actual insurrectionists into victims of FBI manipulation rather than perpetrators of violence.

Amplification to 14M+ Listeners

With an estimated 14+ million listeners, Rogan’s false flag claims reached a massive audience during ongoing January 6 prosecutions and congressional investigations. The conspiracy theory spread to millions who might otherwise accept the documented evidence of Trump’s role in inciting the attack.

This represents systematic misinformation about an attempted coup, with direct consequences for public understanding of democratic vulnerabilities and accountability for political violence.

Alignment with Russian Disinformation

The “January 6 was FBI false flag” narrative aligns with documented Russian information warfare objectives:

Delegitimize Democratic Accountability: Undermine investigations into attacks on democratic institutions Amplify Conspiracy Theories: Create confusion about factual events, making consensus impossible Protect Authoritarian Figures: Shield Trump from consequences of inciting violence Erode Trust in Institutions: Present FBI and Congress as untrustworthy conspirators

Russian state media (RT, Sputnik) promoted identical narratives, suggesting either Rogan’s independent adoption of pro-Russian framing or direct coordination with Russian information operations.

Comparison to Authoritarian Propaganda

The false flag narrative follows classic authoritarian propaganda techniques:

Rodrigo Duterte (Philippines): Blamed critics and “deep state” for opposition to extrajudicial killings Jair Bolsonaro (Brazil): Portrayed corruption investigations as political persecution by shadowy forces Donald Trump (U.S.): Consistently blamed “deep state” and FBI for investigations into his conduct

Rogan’s amplification of these narratives to 14M+ listeners effectively makes him a distributor of authoritarian propaganda, whether intentionally or through ideological alignment.

Context: Evolution of Rogan’s Political Messaging

The January 6 false flag promotion represents escalation in Rogan’s political messaging:

2020: Bernie Sanders endorsement (left-populist) 2021-2022: COVID misinformation crisis 2023: Conspiracy theories deflecting from Trump responsibility (this event) 2024: Direct Trump endorsement and electoral intervention

The trajectory shows systematic rightward movement culminating in promotion of narratives directly serving Trump’s political interests and undermining accountability for the January 6 coup attempt.

Significance: Coup Denial as Mainstream Content

When the most popular podcaster in America tells 14 million listeners that an attempted coup was actually an FBI false flag operation, several concerning dynamics emerge:

Normalized Conspiracy Thinking: Baseless theories receive mainstream platforming and legitimacy Accountability Undermined: Public understanding of January 6 becomes confused, hindering prosecution Democratic Norms Eroded: Attacks on democratic institutions reframed as legitimate resistance to “deep state” Authoritarian Narratives Amplified: Trump absolved, investigators delegitimized, facts become contested

The false flag conspiracy represents more than misinformation—it’s active interference with accountability for political violence and an attempted insurrection. When presented by a trusted podcast host with massive reach, the narrative becomes part of mainstream political discourse rather than fringe conspiracy theory.

This marks a critical point where Rogan’s platform transitioned from medical misinformation (COVID) to political conspiracy theories directly serving authoritarian interests and undermining democratic accountability mechanisms.