In the world of podcasts and viral clips, even the biggest names can get fooled.
That’s exactly what happened when Joe Rogan insisted on air that a video showing Minnesota Governor Tim Walz dancing in a “F*** Trump” shirt was completely authentic—only to later find out it was AI-generated.
The mix-up unfolded during a September 5 episode of The Joe Rogan Experience with comedian Tom Dillon, sparking a heated exchange between Rogan and his longtime producer, Jamie Vernon.
The On-Air Debate Over the Clip
During the show, Rogan brought up the widely shared video of Walz, joking about politicians who “go wacky” after their campaigns end.
He asked Dillon if he’d seen the clip, but when the comedian said no, Rogan had Vernon pull it up.
The moment Vernon explained it was fake, Rogan refused to believe him.
“Yes, it’s real,” Rogan insisted repeatedly, even pointing out how convincing the dance looked.
The back-and-forth only ended once Vernon highlighted the caption that clearly labeled the video as AI-generated.
“I fell for it too,” Rogan eventually admitted.
“And do you know why? Because I believed he’s capable of doing something that dumb.”
The Truth Behind the Viral Video
The original video, posted on TikTok on August 6 by user @RoggenRoland, actually showed the creator himself descending an escalator while singing along to Don’t Cha by The Pussycat Dolls.
Later, the same account shared more videos of himself wearing an anti-Trump shirt that he said he bought from Amazon.
The doctored version that fooled Rogan first appeared on X, posted by user Jebra Faushay, who openly admitted to “swapping the face” and described her content as satire.
Despite this, Rogan was convinced the video was legitimate until the truth was spelled out on-screen.
Comedian Doubles Down on Walz Criticism
Even after realizing the clip was fake, the conversation didn’t shift far from criticism of Governor Walz.
Dillon described him as a “weird guy,” even suggesting—without evidence—that he was “controlled by Communist China.”
These kinds of allegations had already circulated during Kamala Harris’ presidential campaign, fueled in part by Walz’s past personal life.
Walz’s Past Relationship in China Resurfaces
Back in 1989, when Walz was teaching in Guangdong Province, he reportedly had a romantic relationship with Jenna Wang, the daughter of a high-ranking Chinese Communist Party official.
Wang, now 59, confirmed to the Daily Mail that the two dated in secret, traveled together, and were sexually involved.
This relationship has become part of a broader investigation by the House Oversight Committee into Walz’s ties to China.
Committee Chairman James Comer argued that Walz’s connections showed “hallmarks of a CCP infiltration and influence campaign.”
Calls for Accountability Continue
Republicans in Congress, including Comer and Sen. Marco Rubio, say voters deserve full transparency.
Rubio stated on X, “If you aspire to be Vice President of the United States, voters deserve to know everything about any and every link you have to the CCP.”
As scrutiny of Walz intensifies, his past continues to collide with the modern political spotlight—even if that spotlight was briefly fueled by a fake AI video that Joe Rogan believed was real.