Trump signs order pushing psychedelics research after Joe Rogan call

President Donald Trump signed an executive order to speed up research into psychedelic drugs to treat veterans after getting a call from podcast host Joe Rogan.

Trump said Rogan pushed him to look into how the drugs could help veterans grappling with suicide and depression.

"I'm pleased to announce historic reforms to dramatically accelerate access to new medical research and treatments based on psychedelic drugs," Trump told reporters as he signed the order on April 18. "These experimental drugs have shown life changing potential for those suffering from severe mental illness and depression," including veterans.

"I got a call from a number of people, including the great Joe Rogan, and he said, we have to do something about this. And I looked into it," Trump said, flanked in the Oval Office by Rogan and other proponents of using the drugs for veterans, including Robert O'Neill, a former Navy SEAL who claimed to have killed Osama Bin Laden.

The order Trump signed sets a policy of accelerating research into the drugs and directs the Food and Drug Administration to fast track research into the drugs, including ibogaine, a plant-based hallucinogen. It also marks off $50 million for states to research the drugs.

Rogan said that former Texas Gov. Rick Perry and Bryan Hubbard, who leads an organization called Americans for Ibogaine, convinced of the usefulness of psychedelics when he interviewed them on his podcast.

"They told me how impactful this medicine is." In the podcast interview, "millions of people got a chance to hear their story, hear the stories of all the different people that have had life changing experiences from it."

There is growing scientific evidence that psychedelics have a positive impact on the psychological conditions of veterans, who face a much higher suicide rate than the general population. Trump referenced a 2024 study from Stanford University that found veterans with traumatic brain injuries given ibogaine saw improvements in depression and anxiety.

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Both Rogan and O'Neill are also among the podcast personalities who have expressed criticism for Trump's war in Iran. After signing the order, Trump said there were "very good conversations going on" with Iran, even though Iran had hours earlier said it would not open the Strait of Hormuz, and has not publicly agreed to return to talks with the Trump administration.

Days before the appearance with Trump, Rogan said on his podcast that all of the war is "terrifying," using an expletive. "How is this still going on?" he said.

O'Neill has also criticized the Iran war within the month. After Trump threatened to destroy "a whole civilization" if Iran did not open the Strait of Hormuz, O'Neill said he "didn’t think it was presidential."

"I know that it’s very difficult to be around President Trump and tell him something you disagree with," O'Neill said during an April 7 Piers Morgan Uncensored appearance. "I know the man, I’ve had dinner at the White House with him. But someone should step up on something like this."

"You really can't say you're going to wipe out an entire civilization."

Trump's war in Iran has created a rift with his MAGA movement, which has advocated for "America first" anti-interventionism. Trump said during his presidential campaign that the Iraq war was a mistake and that the United States should not start new wars in the Middle East.