Joe Rogan explains how Elon Musk's $480 billion-worth SpaceX is similar to Soapbox Derby vehicles: "Using really ancient technology"

On episode #2331 of The Joe Rogan Experience, the veteran UFC commentator and American Alchemy host Jesse Michels shared their thoughts on SpaceX's engineering practices. Rogan has been a vocal supporter of Elon Musk throughout the years.

While touching on SpaceX, he compared the aerospace company's engineering philosophy to that which is usually seen in soapbox cars, which are built from mundane materials without much sophistication required. According to Rogan, what Musk is doing is using a fairly old template to find success.

He said:

"SpaceX is basically like those f*cking go-karts that people send down hills with no engines, you know what I mean? Like, what are those things called? You know those things when they have races where people make their own [go-karts]? Soapboxes. Yeah, that's what it's like. That's what SpaceX does. It's using really ancient technology to achieve these results."

Check out Joe Rogan's commentary on SpaceX engineering (1:45:40):

The 57-year-old has also hosted Musk on his podcast numerous times. Furthermore, the two men are both politically aligned, or have been in the past, through their very public support of polarizing United States president Donald Trump, who has also been a JRE guest.

However, the bulk of Rogan's relationship with Musk has been defined more by his frequent praise of the SpaceX CEO's work ethic and technological ventures. He once urged people to sign up for the brain-computer interface chips that Neuralink is producing under Musk's guidance.

Rogan, though, may find himself in an uncomfortable position given Musk's newborn feud with Trump.

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Joe Rogan and Elon Musk may no longer be on the same page regarding Donald Trump

Joe Rogan and Elon Musk were once a united front regarding their support for Donald Trump, one of American politics' most controversial figures over the last decade or two. However, a sudden feud has sparked between Musk and Trump following the SpaceX CEO's departure from the Department of Government Efficiency.

Now, Musk has embarked on a social media campaign against Trump, saying the following:

"The Trump tariffs will cause a recession in the second half of this year"

This is in sharp contrast to the unfailing support that both Musk and Rogan have shown Trump in recent memory. For his part, the UFC commentator has remained tight-lipped.