Mark Ruffalo Confronts Joe Rogan Over Immigration Views

Renowned actor Mark Ruffalo is expressing strong disagreement with Joe Rogan’s perspectives on the prevailing Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) repatriation activities. The esteemed actor openly confronted the celebrated broadcaster, known for his support for Donald Trump, for commenting about the ICE operations at what Ruffalo claims is a ‘late’ stage. He chose the social media platform, Threads, to vocalize his views. ‘Dear @joerogan. It seems rather untimely to now feign ignorance about project 2025 and deny that it was the blueprint from the get-go. One cannot easily discern whether you are being naive or purposefully obtuse. The fact remains uncertain at this moment,’ stated Mark Ruffalo.

The actor, who was seen championing Kamala Harris during the 2024 presidential campaign, further indicated that Rogan should have familiarized himself with Trump’s immigration methods prior to endorsing him the previous year. Rogan has started to express his disapproval of the incumbent government’s immigration policy since this year’s spring season. Mark Ruffalo, a revered figure and an Oscar nominee from the Marvel cinematic universe, conveyed these sentiments following Joe Rogan’s podcast episode on July 2 of The Joe Rogan Experience, where he criticized ongoing raids aimed at unauthorized migrant laborers in their workplaces.

At the time, during his conversation with the CEO of Replit, Amjad Masad, 57-year-old Joe Rogan expressed his shock: ‘This is madness. We were given assurances that such activities won’t occur — yet, two aspects are completely absurd. Firstly, migrant workers are being targeted — not members of organized crime syndicates, not gang members, not narcotic traffickers — just everyday laborers like construction workers, seen on construction sites getting apprehended. Even gardeners are being detained. Is this even logical?’

Ruffalo’s reference to ‘Project 25′ was in allusion to the 2025 Presidential Transition Project. As per USA Today, this initiative, launched by the conservative Heritage Foundation, proposed several measures including dissolution of the Education Department, revocation of the federal mandate on abortion pills, and extension of immigration officials’ purview to deport unauthorized immigrants.

Throughout his re-elected term, President Trump, who has always maintained his separation from this project, has seen a significant increase in the apprehension of individuals accused of illegal immigration. This rise resulted in substantial upheaval and public outcries, leading many to label the initiative as ‘unlawful.’

Last week, as per a Fox News report, the president announced that his administration is ‘working on’ an exemption for those working in the agricultural and hospitality sectors. His proclamation was a response to the concerns raised by employees in these sectors about a workforce deficit due to the repatriation operations. Trump also indicated that those who have been working in the US, especially in these sectors, for several years may qualify for a permit that allows them to stay legally. Such individuals will be regarded as tax-paying residents, but they would not be granted the status of citizens.

Trump mentioned: ‘We intend to ensure the wellbeing of our farmers and hotel employees, and we’re continuously working towards it. Ron [DeSantis] will be involved, too. They can reside here legally, contribute taxes, among other factors. They will not secure citizenship but they will receive other perks. Our farmers rely on their services.’

‘Without these individuals, farming operations would come to a standstill,’ Trump added. As per another Fox News report, Mark Ruffalo was seen actively participating in a protest titled ‘No Kings Day’ in New York City on June 14, where he was joined by celebrated actress Susan Sarandon.

Dressed in a hat bearing the inscription ‘immigrant,’ the social activist delivered a scathing critique of Trump’s restrictive immigration policies while emphasizing their importance: ‘First and foremost, we are beginning to understand that immigrants aren’t the criminals. If you delve into the statistics, a majority of the crimes committed in this nation are by non-immigrant White individuals,’ Ruffalo explained to the New York Immigration Coalition (NYIC), an advocacy group, during the protest.

He amplified the sentiment by stating, ‘No savior is going to descend upon us. It’s time for Americans to unite.’ He reiterated these sentiments in an extensive statement he posted on Instagram later that month, where he condemned the current administration’s immigration policies.

‘It is evident that we are living in an oligarchy when you observe working-class individuals blaming the poor and other working-class people,’ Ruffalo wrote on June 7th. His post criticized: ‘The President is a manipulator; his family exploits the bit coin scam to amass wealth while you struggle and worry. And he nonchalantly lets people suffering from AIDS, those enduring famine, persecution, or political danger, perish silently,’ Ruffalo’s words pulled no punches.

He continued: ‘He dismisses your family members from positions, halts cancer research that could potentially save your loved ones. You are directing your ire at the wrong entities.’ He added, ‘The billionaire at the helm is draining you dry, and you’re blaming the most impoverished for your plight? Your ire is misdirected.’

According to Entertainment Weekly, the raids that commenced in June have resulted in the detention of approximately 56,000 immigrants. As these efforts continue, public figures such as Mark Ruffalo use platforms available to them to voice concern and call for action.

It is clear that the backlash against these policies is widespread and prominent individuals are using their platforms to fight what they perceive as an onslaught on human rights. The complexity of the immigration issue in the United States continues to divide public opinion, with no clear solution in sight.

Going forward, dialogues and perspectives such as these are likely to continue until an equitable solution to immigration—balancing human rights with national security—is found. The impassioned pleas of those like Ruffalo and Rogan, despite their differing views, ignite valuable conversations that were previously kept in the shadows.

As wider society becomes more engaged with these issues, it is expected that we will see a shift in how immigration is approached in the United States. The battle lines are drawn, the conversation continues, and the nation watches closely as these events unfold.